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America's Incredible Pizza Company

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America's Incredible Pizza Company (AIPC) is an American restaurant chain based in Springfield, Missouri. The restaurants are pizza buffets and entertainment centers. The first restaurant opened in Springfield in 2002.[1][2] The company has 1,200 employees, and a revenue of $64.1 million.[3]

America's Incredible Pizza Company
IndustryRestaurants
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
HeadquartersSpringfield, Missouri, U.S.
Area served
United States, Mexico
Key people
Rick Barsness Founder & CEO,
Cheryl Barsness Founder
ProductsPizza
Revenue$64.1 million
Number of employees
1,200
Websitewww.incrediblepizza.com
A now closed AIPC at Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2018.

History

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America's Incredible Pizza Company, headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, is owned by Rick and Cheryl Barsness. The couple entered the pizza business with a single restaurant in Victoria, Texas and by 1975, owned 11 franchises of Gatti's Pizza.

AIPC grew out of an idea from its founder, Rick Barsness. When Barsness was a hockey player in high school, his team reached the state championships, but his father never attended a game. His father's absence nurtured a boyhood dream of a place where families could eat and have fun together. This was the type of place Barsness wished he could have spent time with his father.[4]: 2 

In 2003, years of legal battles came to an end when Rick Barsness agreed to pay Gatti's a $1 million settlement.[5] Mr. Gatti's had charged that Barsness had violated his franchise contract with them, and had taken trade secrets. In addition to the $1 million payout, Barsness also agreed to pay Mr. Gatti's Inc. 1% of IPC's net sales for the next 10 years.[6]

AIPC started franchising and established its corporate headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2003. It moved the headquarters to Springfield, Missouri in 2009.[7]

AIPC restaurants have an average of 250 employees and it costs $5–9 million to start a restaurant.[8]

America's Incredible Pizza announced that its location at Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis would close March 19, 2012.[9]

Locations and format

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Exterior at a defunct AIPC at Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2018.

As of May 2021, 9 out of the 25+ total locations remain in operation in the United States, and 3 in Mexico.[10] At the AIPC, the music and decorations have a 1950s theme.[2] AIPC has a buffet style pizza, pasta, salad, and dessert bar, with several seating areas for customers to eat. These include the Starlite Drive In, Family Room, Diner, and Gym.[11] The restaurant has 30 types of pizza and an 80-item salad bar.[12] An AIPC restaurant has an average area of 65,000 to 70,000 square feet (6,000 to 6,500 m2).[13] The restaurant is smoke-free and alcohol-free.[14] It has an arcade, go-karts, billiards, bowling, and miniature golf, among other activities.[15][16]

Incredible Pizza Company Foundation

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In fall 2007, the Incredible Pizza Company founders, Rick and Cheryl Barsness, founded the Incredible Pizza Company Foundation (IPC Foundation) for the goal of donating to missionaries and orphanages. On February 20, 2008, the IPC Foundation gave $24,000 to the Convoy of Hope, a non-profit organization.[17] In September 2008, the IPCF donated $6,500 to Care to Learn, a fund managed by the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.[18]

NASCAR sponsorship

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America's Incredible Pizza Company was the primary sponsor of number 11 CJM Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008 and 2009.[19] On June 17, 2008, Jason Keller, the driver of the Incredible Pizza-sponsored car, attended the opening of the 15th Incredible Pizza restaurant in Mesquite, Texas.[20] In 2008, first complete NASCAR season that the AIPC sponsored a racing team,[21] the team finished in 17th place.[22] In July 2008, CJM Racing and AIPC partnered with Joe Gibbs Racing.[23] The partnership between the two racing teams included the NASCAR driver Scott Lagasse Jr., who finished 13th in the No. 11 America's Incredible Pizza Company Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2008.[24] The sponsorship ended in December 2009 when CJM Racing suspended operations.[25] Keller provided the best run for the team, a third at Gateway Motorsports Park in 2008.[26]

Awards

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In 2008, the America's Pizza Company was named a "Top Family Entertainment Center of the World" (TFEC) from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA),[27] which places it among the top five entertainment centers in the world.[4]: 6  In 2008, AIPC was rated the 456th fastest growing company in the United States by the Inc 500.[28] In the Inc. Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies, AIPC was rated number 12th, with a 693.1% growth.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Olberding, Matt (17 September 2005). "Pizza places planned for Omaha, Lincoln". Lincoln Journal Star. Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  2. ^ a b Cherry, Scott (6 April 2007). "Incredible Pizza Company delivers with loads of fun and good, filling food". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on 2012-09-17. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  3. ^ "The Fastest Growing Private Companies in America: America's Incredible Pizza Company". Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-12-25. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  4. ^ a b Whiteman (2006)
  5. ^ MacCormack, Zeke (13 August 2003). "Pizza chain settles suit with former franchiser Mr. Gatti's will get $1 million and a bit of new venture's revenue". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  6. ^ "America's Incredible Pizza Company". Pizza Marketplace. 13 August 2003. Archived from the original on 2009-04-01. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  7. ^ "Corporate Website: About Us". Incredible Pizza Company. Archived from the original on 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  8. ^ Whiteman (2006), p. 5.
  9. ^ "Lafayette Square Loses Major Tenant". WRTV News. 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  10. ^ "Increcible Pizza Company". Incrediblepizza.com. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  11. ^ Williams, Charles (21 September 2007). "Incredible game room". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  12. ^ "TEAM CJM Racing and America's Incredible Pizza Company". CJM Racing. 31 March 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  13. ^ Whiteman (2006), p.4.
  14. ^ "America's Incredible Pizza Company Opening Second DFW Metroplex Location, Creates Over 200 Jobs". Business Wire. 7 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  15. ^ "Family matters: incredible Pizza Company entertains the family market". Chain Leader. 1 February 2004. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  16. ^ Nelson, Yvonne D. (17 January 2008). "America's Incredible Pizza Company opens". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. Archived from the original on 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  17. ^ "America's Incredible Pizza Company Joins the HopeWalk". Convoy of Hope (Press release). Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  18. ^ "Incredible Pizza Company Gives Back to Care to Learn" (Press release). Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. 18 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-27. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  19. ^ "Phoenix: Jason Keller race report". Motor Sport. 11 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  20. ^ "America's Incredible Pizza Announces Preview Event and Grand Opening Extravaganza". Business Wire. 12 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  21. ^ "Lagasse Jr to drive No. 11 for CJM Racing". Motor Sport. 17 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  22. ^ "Season Finale Cut Short for Lagasse Jr. at Homestead". Motor Sport. 17 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  23. ^ "CJM, Joe Gibbs Racing to form technical alliance". NASCAR. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  24. ^ "Charlotte II: Scott Lagasse Jr race report". Motor Sport. 10 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  25. ^ "CJM Racing suspends operations". ESPN. Associated Press. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  26. ^ "Driver Jason Keller 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  27. ^ Hixon, Marion (2008). "Top FECs of the World awards went to Incredible Pizza Company and FUN CENTRAL Tecamac". International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Archived from the original on 2010-01-18. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  28. ^ "Incredible Pizza joins the Inc. 5000 List at No. 456!" (PDF). America's Incredible Pizza Company. August 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2009-01-29. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  29. ^ "Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies". Inc. 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-01-29.

Bibliography

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  • Pat Whiteman (2006). "Incredibly Ingenious" (PDF). Food & Drink Quarterly. Positive Publications LLC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
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