Round Table Pizza

Round Table Pizza is a large chain of pizza parlors in the western United States. Their slogan as of 2008 is "The Last Honest Pizza".

The company's headquarters are located in Concord, California. [ [http://www.roundtablepizza.com/RTP/about/privacy_policy.asp Company website] , accessed January 12, 2007]

History

The company was founded in 1959 by William R. Larson Sr. (January 30, 1933Fact|date=February 2007 – November 15, 2006"Obituaries: Bill Larson, 73, founder of Round Table chain of pizza parlors", "Los Angeles Times", November 21, 2006, page B8] ). [http://www.roundtablepizza.com/RTP/hot_stuff/faq.asp Company website] , accessed January 12, 2007] [ [http://www.foodbizjobs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=49 FoodBizJobs.com] , accessed January 12, 2007] The company opened its first restaurant in Menlo Park, California. [http://www.roundtablepizza.com/RTP/Press/pepperoni_artisan.asp Company website] , accessed January 12, 2007]

In 1961 a friend of Larson's drew some sketches of members of King Arthur's court eating pizza, and Mr. Larson then adopted the King Arthur theme for his restaurants. The three shields in the official logo were added in 1970, and are intended to symbolize the letters "F-U-N".

Round Table Pizza began to expand through franchising.

Larson sold his restaurants to a group of investors in 1979.

From around 2003 until 2005, Round Table Pizza's official mascots were two puppets, Matt and Marcus, appearing in the company's past television commercials. [ [http://www.roundtablepizza.com/RTP/Features/Video/commercials_smokehouse.asp Company website] , accessed January 12, 2007] [ [http://puppetvision.blogspot.com/2005/03/roundtables-matt-and-marcus.html PuppetVision Blog] , March 16, 2005, accessed January 12, 2007]

In the third quarter of 2007, Round Table Pizza's mascot became the Pizza Knight, "defender of family night". [ [http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2007/09/hungry-peasants.html Hungry peasants bow down to Pizza Knight] , September 13, 2007, accessed May 1, 2008]

As of 2007 there were more than 500 franchised and company-owned locations.

Locations

As of 2008 they are located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Until June 2008, Round Table Pizza operated stores in Idaho. [ [http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/426140.html Round Table Pizza closes all seven stores in Treasure Valley] ]

References