EricS.

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Through booms and busts, Pizza Inn has continued to innovate, even as its parent company has expanded into the fast-casual segment.

pizzainn-famiyPizza Inn has come a long way since Joe Spillman opened his first location in 1958 across from the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. But the road has been a pretty rough one. The pizzeria proved immediately successful and had already expanded into other locations when franchising began in 1963; aggressive growth accelerated in the late ’60s, and by the ’80s there were nearly 800 Pizza Inns in the United States. But when Spillman sold the company in the 1980s, overreaching debts caused Pizza Inn to fall into bankruptcy, which it eventually emerged from in 1991, becoming publicly traded in 1994.

Today, more than 300 locations still stand in 15 states and several foreign countries, but Pizza Inn Holdings changed its name to Rave Restaurant Group in 2015. Now the company is one of the fastest-growing leaders in the fast-casual pizza space, thanks to its Pie Five concept.

“One of the great attributes of our brand has been that, although we’ve struggled in areas, we didn’t let the product suffer in the process,” former CEO and president Charlie Morrison told PMQ Pizza Magazine in 2011. “That’s kept the brand around for such a long time.” With three types of stores—buffet/dine-in, a delivery/carryout operation and an express—the company also evolved to encompass a range of concepts.


Morrison pointed to several Pizza Inn innovations over the years: in specialty pizzas (such as the bacon cheeseburger pizza in the ’90s), the pizza buffet concept (Pizza Inn began buffets in the late ’60s), and the “pizzert,” a pizza-style dessert introduced in 1986.

By Tracy Morin

pizzainn-food

38 Comments

  1. December 21, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Proud to be in the Pizza Hall of Fame. It’s a privilege to make and serve the best food on the planet – pizza. For over 50 years we have enjoyed every minute of putting a smile on our customers’ faces, and spreading the joy that is pizza. As we like to say, you can’t have a bad time around a good pizza. This induction as a Hall of Fame Pizzeria is an honor to all of our employees and our franchisees who have been getting up every day to make this brand great. Thanks PMQ Magazine for this recognition for all those who work so hard.
    Randy Gier
    Chief Eating Officer

    • EricS.Reply
      December 21, 2015 at 9:32 am

      Thanks Randy! It was our pleasure to place Pizza Inn amongst our Hall of Famers!

    • AnnaReply
      April 15, 2023 at 10:53 am

      Is there any restaurant’s in Michigan? I grew up on Pizza Inn and there is still not one place that has made a better Supreme. Any I eat still to this day, years later, I can’t help but know that I still remember the taste and none can compare. I’ve been to several states and had different pizzas and can say none can hold a candle. The crust was better than all. Still is in my book.

      • AnnaReply
        April 15, 2023 at 10:54 am

        Forgot to mention it was in San Antonio, Texas that I grew up eating Pizza Inn at.

  2. January 19, 2017 at 12:27 am

    […] freshly made pastas, sandwiches, and desserts.  Pizza Inn was recently inducted in to the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based […]

  3. February 3, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    […] well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches, and desserts.  Pizza Inn was recently inducted in to the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  4. February 3, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    […] freshly made pastas, sandwiches, and desserts.  Pizza Inn was recently inducted in to the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based […]

  5. August 15, 2017 at 4:01 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  6. October 3, 2017 at 7:02 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  7. QaplaReply
    October 6, 2017 at 9:41 pm

    I worked at Pizza Inn from 1972 through 1988. I enjoyed it. I miss the old Pizza Inn’s we had in our town.
    Our store was a franchise – so, along with the buffett and the piezzert, we made our own crackers for the salads with the thin crust dough …. they were a big hit.

  8. October 25, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  9. October 30, 2017 at 4:03 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  10. December 6, 2017 at 9:01 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  11. December 7, 2017 at 8:31 am

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  12. December 7, 2017 at 8:51 am

    […] as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based […]

  13. December 7, 2017 at 8:56 am

    […] as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) […]

    • Leslie Stone HudsonReply
      March 7, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      My name is Leslie Stone Hudson111 I worked for Pizza Inn And all the other brands behind the name ,JT Mcords, RJ Maxwes and many others but Pizza Inn By far when in the late 70s and throughout the 80s any store that needed back up on a Friday n Saturday night Yyou can bet I had black slack white shirt and a green or red apron working from the cash wrap to the customer to the dishwasher I was there until 2 or 3 in the morning getting ready for the next slam , I was related to the Spillmans and was dedicated to backing their dreams I miss the Spillman men they were all family to me and LOVE Uncle Francis Joe.

  14. March 1, 2018 at 11:55 am

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  15. March 1, 2018 at 12:03 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

    • Cheryl LawrenceReply
      August 30, 2023 at 1:53 pm

      F. Joseph Spillman founded PIZZA INN in Kansas with his high school friend, Frank Carney, who founded PUZZA HUT . Joe and his wife Lisa are still alive and kicking in Las Colinas enjoying their retirement. However, Frank is no longer with us. Pray for Joe!

  16. March 1, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    […] as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based […]

  17. March 22, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  18. March 22, 2018 at 4:25 pm

    […] as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based […]

  19. March 22, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    […] made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) […]

  20. March 22, 2018 at 5:03 pm

    […] made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) […]

  21. May 1, 2018 at 8:21 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  22. May 1, 2018 at 8:28 pm

    […] as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based […]

  23. May 1, 2018 at 8:52 pm

    […] made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) […]

  24. May 1, 2018 at 8:59 pm

    […] made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) […]

  25. June 29, 2018 at 4:00 am

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  26. John WyerReply
    August 22, 2018 at 1:10 pm

    I worked for Pizza Inn for 10 years from 1973 to 1983. I started in Houston as a manager and store opening specialist. I also opened the store in Clute, Texas. I was a trouble shooter for a while and was finally promoted to area manager in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After successfully restoring profitability to the area, it was sold to a franchisee. From there, I was promoted to area training specialist in Phoenix Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. The franchisee in Albuquerque did not do well, the company resumed contro;l and I was moved back to Albuquerque to take up the area manager position. I enjoyed my time with Pizza Inn and wish there was one closer that Carlsbad, NM. Maybe I’ll drive down there soon just for old times sake. I am very happy that the company is still going and I wish it well.

  27. October 1, 2018 at 12:08 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  28. November 29, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    […] as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based in […]

  29. December 30, 2018 at 10:48 am

    […] as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based […]

  30. July 4, 2019 at 2:32 pm

    […] as freshly made pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Pizza Inn was recently inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame by PMQ Magazine. Pizza Inn is a subsidiary of RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RAVE) based […]

  31. David JonesReply
    December 19, 2020 at 11:15 pm

    I began working for Pizza Inn at 2430 N Story Rd, Irving, TX in 1981, at 16 years old. I was very proud to work there, and WE as a crew were very synchronous. The Spillman family lived closest to our store at the time. It was not unusual for them to visit us occasionally. I used to like to add my own creation to the Buffet which is now known as cheesy bread. I would do some garlic butter on a thin crust, and put the cheese and some parmesan on it, and cook it in the Bakes oven, and trim off the round parts, and make nice little small rectangles. Mrs. Spillman, was in charge of NORCO (the commissary and R&D part of Pizza Inn, and she asked who made them, and then asked me how I made them, and soon enough, after she talked to R&D, they were a mandated staple on the buffet. I take credit for instigating, if not inventing the cheesy bread which is now found at probably every pizza buffet. Chris Spillman was only a few years older than I, and I do remember hanging out with him as well, but that’s another story.

  32. Rusty BoakReply
    December 22, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    I have to say that my six years with P I were great. I was @ the store manager level in three great cities of Texas ( not at the same time of course ), Austin was awesome, Corpus Christi was pretty cool, Houston was, well lets just say not the best that Texas has to offer. But those six years ( 1976 thru 1982 ) were an incredible adventure. I was rewarded very well for turning in quarterly numbers so that the powers that be deemed it bonus worthy. And most important, it was fun, I liked the people that worked for me as well as the people I worked for (Rob Ward, Roger&Rodney Geortz, Walter Tayler, and so many more)

  33. WR WheelerReply
    August 18, 2022 at 1:57 am

    I worked for PI in four states and eight stores over a six year period. Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. I was young and enjoyed the challenge of moving from cook to manager. With the exception of getting robbed a couple of times, I can say it was usually a great job. I had some good bosses and one bad one that caused me to leave. The best part was my coworkers. It was the late 70’s and early 80’s and Pizza Inn was still doing ok. My last store was a company store that was sold to a franchise. The new management was the reason I left to go to work for a different chain. Otherwise, I don’t know how long I’d have stayed.

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