How Did Little Caesar's Become a Big Big Pizza Chain?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024

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  • @FranzFerdinand76
    @FranzFerdinand76 ปีที่แล้ว +1166

    I worked there for a time. They would refrigerate all the hot and ready pizzas that got too old to sell and the local mission and other charities would come pick them up and feed the needy. It was a good 100 to 200 pizzas a week.

    • @xandersnyder7214
      @xandersnyder7214 ปีที่แล้ว +208

      Makes so much more sense than just throwing them out, I am happy to know that they support the needy that way!

    • @AttitudeIndicator
      @AttitudeIndicator ปีที่แล้ว +28

      I've always wondered why poverty-stricken are so obese and have such short lives

    • @willvandermeer4733
      @willvandermeer4733 ปีที่แล้ว +115

      I actually used to get free little Ceasars pizza. No shame here. Food is food. It would help my mom with packing our lunch as my parents couldnt afford food for 4 kids in school.

    • @angelopueyygarcia43
      @angelopueyygarcia43 ปีที่แล้ว +159

      @@AttitudeIndicator as opposed to not living at all due to dying of hunger? Sounds like a decent trade-off

    • @adambonesaw3689
      @adambonesaw3689 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's fucking bullshit I work hard for my money and get the same pizza. Tell the free loaders to chugg dick

  • @Greenhooves
    @Greenhooves ปีที่แล้ว +898

    Their quiet charity is quite inspiring.

    • @williampaz2092
      @williampaz2092 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      I was not aware of that. Where or whom does Little Caesar’s donate to?

    • @jessepusatero3278
      @jessepusatero3278 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      @@williampaz2092 they give out scholarships to kids

    • @Watch-0w1
      @Watch-0w1 ปีที่แล้ว

      Unlike other that want stick it in your face

    • @america1st721
      @america1st721 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      their quiet ability to run the tigers and red wings is a joke.

    • @Drownedinblood
      @Drownedinblood ปีที่แล้ว +50

      ​@@williampaz2092 apparently their ceo was paying for Rosa parks rent the entire time too.

  • @Nightenstaff
    @Nightenstaff ปีที่แล้ว +748

    I'm not a fan of Little Caesar's Hot 'n Ready pizzas, but their lunch combo, a four slice deep dish pepperoni personal pizza with 20oz bottled drink for $5 is among the best lunch deals in fast food. It's beyond filling and could easily feed two moderately hungry people, it's fast, and crazy cheap. You never hear it talked about and it gets very little fanfare in advertisements, but I consider it the high mark of Little Caesars without question.

    • @ArcheWhatzitGonnaB3
      @ArcheWhatzitGonnaB3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      The lunch combo is both a great value and a great pizza, it's a good thing those Deep Deep Dish pizzas stayed around and didn't get discontinued like all the other limited time pizzas.
      They really don't advertise anything other than their Hot-N-Ready pizzas and whatever new thing they have that month. The lunch combo hasn't had a sign at the place near me for years, and the only mention of it is a small spot on the menuboard in store, had to ask if they still had it last time I went as they really don't show it off anymore.

    • @comettamer
      @comettamer ปีที่แล้ว +6

      It's a solid idea for the price, aye. And I agree it deserves more recognition than it gets.

    • @GrubbsandWyrm
      @GrubbsandWyrm ปีที่แล้ว +7

      The lunch combo is 🔥

    • @krisfrederick5001
      @krisfrederick5001 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Yeah that's the Detroit style and the crust is divine.

    • @thehighllama8101
      @thehighllama8101 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I agree about the lunch combo's value. However, I have yet to visit a Little Caesar's where the lunch combo is actually Hot 'n Ready. I always have to order it and wait. That really annoys me. It's advertised as "Hot 'n Ready", not the "Order and Wait" combo. By the way, where I live, in the Central Valley of CA, the lunch combo now costs $5.99.

  • @Hopespringseternal
    @Hopespringseternal ปีที่แล้ว +232

    I adore the Ilitch’s and their story. Learning about them a few years ago made me feel very good about supporting their shops. I go around defending the brand against the pizza snobs (which I once was) and I’m so happy our local shop is under new management (because now it’s always delicious instead of hit or miss) . The sticks and slices hot n ready is our favorite Friday night treat! Thank you for sharing their story. Truly awesome people.

    • @HasselHaas
      @HasselHaas ปีที่แล้ว +23

      I’m also a little Caesar’s defender mainly for the Ilitch’s long history of charity. But also because their pricing being as low as it is has kept many from not starving. For some a $5 hot n ready is trash but for those that have to count every Penny it might be the best meal they have had for the week. Also they come out with the best commercials and some crazy unique limited time pizzas like the pretzel pizza. Thank god I grew up during the pizza wars and in Michigan right by dominos and little Caesar’s HQ’s are it was such a fun time.

    • @ross-carlson
      @ross-carlson ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Having just learned about them from this video I'll be joining those ranks soon myself. Seem like really awesome people.

    • @Turbotef
      @Turbotef ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I'm a pizza snob and I still love Little Caesars and have for over 40 years! I actually like their cheap $14 Supreme Pizza (been ordering it consistently since late 1993 along with the Meatsa) and find its topping ratio pretty good compared to others. Too many toppings actually can ruin a pizza too IMO.

    • @robertw0136
      @robertw0136 ปีที่แล้ว

      they’re turning detroit into a parking lot for profit under the guise of their past charitable actions

    • @wsmfp_4207
      @wsmfp_4207 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      As a Detroit resident the illtich family does more harm than good. Just like every other billionaire they’re philanthropists but that’s just for good PR. Do some research on their forced blight and destroying of historic neighborhoods. They buy out land, kick out businesses and force the buildings to stay vacant. They let the properties rot as the surrounding land’s value plummets. They then buy up this land for cheap and use it to build their billion dollar empire. A good part of the reason you see the ruins of Detroit on TV is because of the iltich family. Handing out pizza to poor people is nice, but letting parts of the city rot and decay is not.

  • @AtticusGrim
    @AtticusGrim ปีที่แล้ว +307

    I often wonder how many of us would have starved to death without Little Ceasar's cheap pizza. I know my Mom was a big fan of the hot-n-ready when she was working her ass off with two(sometimes three) jobs.

    • @IloveJellow
      @IloveJellow ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Tell the truth I remember all that plus the pizza wars going on.. She would buy what ever was cheap at the time.. or what ever we could afford. It was something to look forward too and also taco Fridays.

    • @jeffreymodesitt3345
      @jeffreymodesitt3345 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      As a broke college student, Little Caesar’s was my best friend for a solid two months when I’d squandered most of my money and was living off the meager allowance my parents were sending me. They kept my ass well-fed during that period, and I’ll never forget them for that.

    • @RichardGarcia93
      @RichardGarcia93 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@IloveJellow lol taco Fridays? That’s odd.

    • @IloveJellow
      @IloveJellow 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@RichardGarcia93 not so odd when your mother is working from 12am too 12pm... with only a Saturday off.

    • @cryptoFinx
      @cryptoFinx 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@jeffreymodesitt3345meager allowance... lol as a child I asked for allowance once from my mom, she offered me the door. 😂

  • @disregardthat
    @disregardthat ปีที่แล้ว +266

    I generally prefer mom-and-pop pizza places, but Little Caesar's is actually my preferred "greasy fast food chain" pizza of the three big names. can't rightly explain why, but it is probably nostalgia from always ordering it when visiting my grandpa's house back in the early 00s

    • @krisfrederick5001
      @krisfrederick5001 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      I remember getting the "Pizza Pizza" deal on Friday nights sometimes and renting a movie and a video game if I was lucky. Long before the Hot n Ready was a thing.

    • @anthonygillette
      @anthonygillette ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I can say exactly why it’s my favorite; or used to be, it was the cheapest and fastest pizza. No one sold a pizza for 5 bucks, 6 if you want it slathered in oil and garlic, and it was walk in carry out.
      Nowadays 2 pies and a crazy bread runs over $20 and I might as well get delivery from Marco’s.

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      LC uses a good combination of pepperoni, cheese, and crust. There's little differences between all of the bottom tier chains, but LCs just tastes the best to me. I used to work at Dominos, which is my 2nd fav (although I don't eat there much anymore, as you can understand).

    • @DrLumpyDMus
      @DrLumpyDMus ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Little Caesar's IS a mom and pop pizza place. They've just expanded their operation so that instead of paying the salaries of a handful of people, they're paying the salaries of a million people. Thanks Little Caesar's!

    • @TaigiTWeseDiplomat--Formosan
      @TaigiTWeseDiplomat--Formosan 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I got a slice of pizza for 5 dollars 😮
      (Ok bigger than palm though)

  • @a.grimes4202
    @a.grimes4202 ปีที่แล้ว +74

    The saddest thing about Mr. I’s investment in the Tigers is he actually wanted success in the form of a World Series Championship but only got 2 WS appearances in 2006 and 2012 before his death in 2017. RIP to a Detroit pizza and sports legend-we’ll never forget the great value and the 4 Stanley Cups your ownership brought to the Detroit Red Wings.

  • @Malryth
    @Malryth ปีที่แล้ว +169

    The first Little Caesars pizza I ever tried was up here in Canada, in the late 80's. It was definitely a good price for an unemployed teenager. Great video and thank you!

    • @charlesmurphy3222
      @charlesmurphy3222 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Windsor Ontario is the pizza capital of Canada. Love Mother's and Capri.

    • @kerrbear1980
      @kerrbear1980 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Here in Scarborough (now Toronto), our giant Mothers Pizza turned into a Little Caesars around 89?. Was a huge eat in restaurant. Was the fricken best! They werent fast n ready back then. Was real quality

    • @thequinlanshow3326
      @thequinlanshow3326 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I must be insane because Mothers pizza is the worst pizza I have ever had in my life. The most expensive pizza I've ever purchased and it had absolutely no flavor whatsoever. I'm glad the Mothers pizza in Niagara went out of business, they were a terrible sit down restaurant and even worse pizza place

  • @gokaury
    @gokaury ปีที่แล้ว +187

    For me, Pizza Hut has really dipped down in recent years. Dominos is still my favorite pizza chain, but Little Caesar's has really impressed me as of late. Their old school curled pepperoni pizza really hit the spot with me last weekend. So much cheese and so much pepperoni, it really makes itself worth the $10+ you pay for it.

    • @NujwOayk
      @NujwOayk ปีที่แล้ว +11

      If Pizza Hut of today was the same version in the 80s no one would know their name today.

    • @NujwOayk
      @NujwOayk ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@edwardleemiller-eo8jp They used to taste good, they no longer do.

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@NujwOayk I was never a fan of Pizza Hut (always makes me run to the bathroom), but their pizza definitely used to be better in the 80s or 90s. LCs is the best, and Domino's is number two.

    • @NujwOayk
      @NujwOayk ปีที่แล้ว

      @@hxhdfjifzirstc894 Somewhere on this thread I posted near the same thing.

    • @therealone1288
      @therealone1288 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I agree, that old world pep pizza is something else. I always go dominos but I had to try that and was not disappointed

  • @IsmailAbdulMusic
    @IsmailAbdulMusic ปีที่แล้ว +56

    Cool video. Growing up here in Pontiac, Michigan, I am very familiar with Little Caesars and have been in a TV commercial for them. Little Caesars used to have a very good toasted tuna melt on their menu in late 80's and mid 1990's. Fun times!

    • @NujwOayk
      @NujwOayk ปีที่แล้ว +4

      It was not toasted, it was pizza dough baked in half-moon pans. The tuna in water was mixed with mayo and coleslaw dressing. I worked at LC for about six years in the 80s/90s and make those tuna melts to this day.

    • @Anidoesstuff
      @Anidoesstuff ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Pontiac lc has terrible hygiene

  • @jacobrcummings
    @jacobrcummings ปีที่แล้ว +180

    I went to the Little Caesars by my house and someone came in talking crap and the worker went outside, literally put the guy to sleep, went back inside and started making the pizza again. It was fantastic.

    • @hotfudgecake
      @hotfudgecake ปีที่แล้ว +8

      .... Nice 😂

    • @godzilladestroyscities1757
      @godzilladestroyscities1757 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Taking a crap or talking crap? Those are two wildly different stories.

    • @trevorsizzle3705
      @trevorsizzle3705 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@godzilladestroyscities1757 I was hoping it was taking a crap, but I guess it was not so.

    • @anna-gt2mu
      @anna-gt2mu 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      A

    • @anna-gt2mu
      @anna-gt2mu 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      A

  • @shatteredsoldier81
    @shatteredsoldier81 ปีที่แล้ว +111

    The 90s pizza wars that we all benefit from as a kid.

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      They were almost giving pizza away, at one point. Of course, Taco Bell still sold tacos for $0.29 or $0.39 at that time.

  • @travisa7669
    @travisa7669 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    I will say this for Little Caesar's in the 1990s, they had the best commercials on tv. I only had the BIGFOOT pizza from Pizza Hut and all it really was is an oversized birthday party pizza. Little Caesar's still makes a good pizza and I'm glad they're still around to break up the standard Pizza Hut/Domino's game.

  • @KasCalwein
    @KasCalwein ปีที่แล้ว +86

    I'm German and in 2010 I did a school year abroad in North Carolina and Little Caesar's was the go to pizza chain of my host family. While Dominos (even though they basically just overtook some other regional chains here) und PApa John's (finally one authentic American style Pepperoni Pizza in Germany!) have expanded to Germany in recent years, I really wish Little Caesar's would do so as well.

    • @eno6712
      @eno6712 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I'm surprised they aren't in Germany, as they use German Munster Cheese more than Mozzarella in their mix.
      And it's why I love them.
      But I'm a Canadian.

    • @KasCalwein
      @KasCalwein ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@eno6712 Until like ten years ago the German pizza delivery market was waaaaay to fragmented. I mentioned that Dominos took over some chains but neither of those served the entire country. Individual business with only a few local stores can still be a big thing over here. Dominos just scooped up some of the biggest chains from different regions and while they may by now be THE biggest national name, smaller almost nation wide competitors and local chains have their comsiderable market share. Plus Dominos until recently had no own identity but rather just conginuing the menu of the chains they swallowed. Compare that with Pizza Hut which has been around in Germany for a while now especially in regions where the US military is present. But neither are hey known here for delivery or full blown dining but rather fast food that is mostly consumed as an individual slice take out

    • @lonestarr1490
      @lonestarr1490 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@KasCalwein I suspect it might be too late for them to make the jump successfully, as the market segment of take-out pizza is already quite saturated in Germany. This takes into account that eating on the go is not really the German style of having lunch.

    • @davidmoser3535
      @davidmoser3535 ปีที่แล้ว

      papa john is ptomaine gurranteed

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว

      Papa John's is the worst pizza chain. I hope you Germans have at least one option for a 'good' pizza.

  • @toko90s9
    @toko90s9 ปีที่แล้ว +230

    Honestly of the big chains, Little Ceaser's is probably the best.
    It doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. It's not fantastic, high quality pizza, but if you want something that'll feed you for a few days on the cheap, they're there for that.

    • @jamesanderson6373
      @jamesanderson6373 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      *Little Caesars

    • @dimebag667
      @dimebag667 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The Little Caesars where I live absolutely suck. They were awesome in the early 90's, but not anymore.

    • @entitiessoul
      @entitiessoul ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Op. Dominos is the best.

    • @rgeiler7627
      @rgeiler7627 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Place is alright but more inconsistent than the other places of what to expect. Sometimes you're shocked by how good a 7$ pizza is and other times you feel like you got cheated. And this is coming from someone who's worked there for 5 years.

    • @duckfacemcgee3271
      @duckfacemcgee3271 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@rgeiler7627 I agree. Sometimes their pizzas are cooked to perfection, but sometimes their undercooked and meh.

  • @MarianneKat
    @MarianneKat ปีที่แล้ว +33

    LC has been a big part of my life! My childhood had occassional pizza pizza treats. My husband delivered pizza for them during our college years, in a '73 cutlass supreme V8 when gas was 99 cents a gallon. Our daughters firat trick or treat halloween had very cold temps, so we visited him at work and she was given a slice of pizza as a treat. We love the Tigers and the Red Wings, and attend various events at both Tiger Stadium/Comerica park as well as Joe Louis Arena and now LC arena. Ilitch has put a lot of money back in to Detroit, something very much needed. Our rural MI town boasts an LC with a drive-thru, and we still indulge now and then. Raising 4 kids, 3 boys and all 4 in sports, meant a lot of pizza! LC made this affordable (esp when the teen boys consider an entire pizza 1 serving😂😂). Domino's and LC fight for MI's heart, and we appreciate all the owners have done to reinvest in our state. Thanks for mentioning Rosa Parks too!! ❤❤❤❤❤

  • @SPCBRAWLERZ
    @SPCBRAWLERZ ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Hands down my favorite cheap pizza for many years. Happy to read the comments of the stories and impact this fast food chain has done! Rest well Mike Ilitch, your impact is an underrated legacy.

  • @LegacyUser
    @LegacyUser ปีที่แล้ว +40

    Man I miss the heyday of the 1990's pizza wars. I get their lunch combo because it is an amazing deal. Pizza and soda for like 5 bucks is hard to beat. Also their pizzas kept me fed during some really rough times.

  • @AlexBowenPrime
    @AlexBowenPrime ปีที่แล้ว +20

    There's actually a still-operating Dine-In location in Corunna, MI. Their quality is a noticeable step up from the normal locations (especially the deep dish). They are also one of very few locations that offer what locals call "orange cheese," a crazy bread spread that's a whipped mix of pizza sauce and cream cheese and it is AMAZING.

  • @charlesmurphy3222
    @charlesmurphy3222 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Michigan is the all star game of pizza franchises. LC, Domino's, Jets, Hungry Howies are the most popular ones. All have their own "niches".
    LC for value, Jets for quality, Domino's for selection and HH for their flavored crust. If you order LC off the menu, they have some really good pies.
    Nice work, WH!

    • @joez.2794
      @joez.2794 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      LC's "pizza portal" is whole 'nother "killer niche" they have going. Nothing like walking past the line, keying in your 3-digit code (or QR code on your phone), and leaving without talking to anyone .

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@joez.2794 They should put that pizza portal thing on a drive through lane (lay it out horizontally, instead of vertically). Roll up, enter your code, and a mini pizza garage door opens... then pull forward and grab it through your window.

  • @dasalabog3749
    @dasalabog3749 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    While watching this video I was feeling some nostalgia seeing the big big pizzas my dad would bring home after work, and picking up a bag of crazy bread to nibble on while shopping at Kmart when I was a kid. Real shame about PIzza Hut. Those dine in nights were truly special events for kids back in the day.

  • @Danlight1911
    @Danlight1911 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I don't know why it feels so rare to hear about a founder's story that didn't end in divorce.

  • @giraffesinc.2193
    @giraffesinc.2193 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    I do not frequent Little Caesars, but when times are tough and you need something filling and cheap, Little Caesars is awesome. I am glad they do a lot of work to 'give back.' Happy for the Ilitch's and their amazing success story!

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      IMO their best 'value' pizza is the *cheese stuffed crust* version of their Extra Most Bestest pepperoni pizza. I don't normally go for stuffed crust, but it's only about a dollar more and makes the pizza approximately twice as filling (meaning I can double the amount of meals from one pizza, for only $1 more).

    • @StephenJones-n2v
      @StephenJones-n2v ปีที่แล้ว

      Domino’s really has the same prices tho

    • @giraffesinc.2193
      @giraffesinc.2193 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@StephenJones-n2v 🤔

  • @WDXY1
    @WDXY1 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    I grew up poor. Little Caesars will always have a place in my heart.

  • @Itsfineweerallfine
    @Itsfineweerallfine ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The 1990’s Little Caesars commercials where THE BEST! I genuinely still remember AT LEAST 3 off the top of my head, and still giggle!
    “Is it on straight?” F-ing comedy GOLD!!!

  • @Stinger420
    @Stinger420 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    I do remember one night, the weekend after my birthday, my mom let three of my friends stay over late, went swimming, played video games as usual, but I'd been asking my parents if we could order a Bigfoot pizza after seeing the commercial, so she finally did for that night with my friends.

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Ah, the Bigfoot! They also used to have 3 separate square pizzas in one box, but I can't remember the name of that deal.

    • @robertcarlson4666
      @robertcarlson4666 ปีที่แล้ว

      While you were eating pizza,I was bangin out your mom

  • @superspak
    @superspak ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I love little Caesar's just from a nostalgia point. Hot and Ready pizza was a mainstay in my college life 2005-2009. Lately I have been torn from them because of the shaky franchise platform. I did an online order and showed up to a closed store with no food, but my order was stated as complete and I never got a refund. I hear that customer service is non existent or difficult to get any response on refunds, so I haven't ordered from them since. I use slice and support local chains now. Love seeing the videos as always. 😁

    • @93corvettebaby
      @93corvettebaby ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hmm,the two complaints I have had with them I was completely satisfied with their Customer service.

  • @CrippledMerc
    @CrippledMerc ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Whoever wrote this script is absolutely fantastic! It’s such good writing.

  • @makingroceries77
    @makingroceries77 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    I used to love Little Caesars pizza! Unfortunately I can't eat pizza anymore. On another note...our narrator is back! Woo Hoo! Thank you! 🙏☮️❤️

    • @BeyondDaX
      @BeyondDaX ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What about crazy bread?

    • @makingroceries77
      @makingroceries77 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@BeyondDaX yeah I loved that too but because of digestive issues I can no longer have any of it sadly. It sucks to get old 😔

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Well, you can have it at least one more time in your life.

  • @casperparks
    @casperparks ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great episode... Thanks for doing the research and posting a video.

  • @patrickbateman3610
    @patrickbateman3610 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I'm so glad you guys did a very positive video about all the good LCs has done. They also give out free pizzas to veterans every years, something that the others don't. The pizza is solid, it's obviously not the best, but it's great value, something that struggling families, single bachelors, schools, etc. really appreciate. There are so many "pizza snobs" droning on about "their local mom and pops store," it makes me sick. Nothing wrong with chain pizza, especially one that gives back to its community.

  • @S1CKTR1CKY
    @S1CKTR1CKY 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Nothing will beat 90’s fast food

  • @seanwebb605
    @seanwebb605 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    My grandfather had a side hustle installing aluminum awnings. All of the houses in the neighbourhood had them. It was actually sad to see a few years back the current owners of my grandparents' former house had taken them off. They didn't know the local history.

  • @renegaderaven3777
    @renegaderaven3777 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Gosh, didn’t know they performed so much charity work. Glad their company has found so much success.

  • @marilynalvarez9951
    @marilynalvarez9951 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    An amazing family, I loved their story, thank you for brining it to light.

  • @MarkMeadows90
    @MarkMeadows90 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I've eaten Little Caesar's since I was a little kid. It's not the best pizza around, but it fills you up just right when you don't have a lot of money. You just gotta know when to get a pizza fresh right out of the oven. Most of the time, their regular large pizzas are already made. They'll hand them to you in as little under a minute. If you really want a freshly made pizza from them, order the Extra Most Bestest Pizza. It'll take some time, but it's worth it.

  • @petergriffiinbirdistheword
    @petergriffiinbirdistheword ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Lil Ceasars is great when you're on a budget. I use to dislike them, but there improved the quality of their food a lot. They're not my go to, but if ever I wanted a quick, hot, cheap but decent pizza then they'd be one of the options I'd consider.

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Pro tip: call ahead and have them make one fresh, instead of buying whatever is sitting on the rack.
      Pro tip #2: Their cheese stuffed crust Extra Most Bestest is the best bang for the buck (it's twice as filling as a plain old pepperoni, and doesn't cost much more).

  • @juancardoza6918
    @juancardoza6918 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I love Little Caesar's, it will always be my favorite fast food pizza

  • @anderwood6005
    @anderwood6005 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I so loved that two pizza bag, such good childhood memories of Friday night pizzas!

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner ปีที่แล้ว +2

    A+ video!
    Great to hear Little Caesar's origin story!

  • @NotEcons
    @NotEcons ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I'm eating Little Caesars right now. It is really good when you don't have someone in your ear telling you how bad it is.

  • @FreddieFoodieKing
    @FreddieFoodieKing ปีที่แล้ว +16

    the pizza was different back then. even the crazy bread tasted different. the pizza pizza with a side order of crazy bread was a fabulous meal for the whole family

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      LCs even had the 3 square pizzas in one box deal, back in the 90s... this was the best deal in the pizza business, at the time.

  • @sophiaisabelle027
    @sophiaisabelle027 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    We hope to see more content like this. They contain information we all need to know about.

  • @chinesecabbagefarmer
    @chinesecabbagefarmer ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Wow, that's actually a really nice story! Thanks for the upload.

  • @muppetsretrofan8873
    @muppetsretrofan8873 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This was an amazing video, Weird History! Little Caesar's used to have this DELICIOUS bacon stuffed crust pizza, but it was discontinued very quickly. Weird thing is, the Little Caesar's near me closed down after the discontinuation of the bacon stuffed crust. It's cool to see that Little Caesar's still uses their mascot, considering both Pizza Hut and Domino's dropped theirs. Well, Noid makes an appearance now and then, but Donny Domino is only a walkaround character, which I think is a huge shame. Donny was a pretty cool mascot, and I feel like he and Dottie could have been used more.

    • @rightmeow58
      @rightmeow58 ปีที่แล้ว

      Their bacon wrapped pan pizza was incredible.
      Huge fan of LC since 1989.

  • @dannyspence2390
    @dannyspence2390 ปีที่แล้ว

    It's funny watching this as a Detroit local and native. A lot of this is common knowledge here, particularly everything about the Illitches. They're a household name here, along with the Fords (who own the Detroit Lions). When I used to groom dogs, one of my clients was one of the Illitches, don't know who, it was always an assistant that dropped off and picked up, but the tip was ALWAYS nice. Between them and the Fords, they have done a LOT in recent years to rejuvenate the city from what it once was.

  • @GrubbsandWyrm
    @GrubbsandWyrm ปีที่แล้ว +5

    That pretzel pizza is amazing! And i love the lunch combo

  • @dannymartial7997
    @dannymartial7997 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Whenever I'm feeling like a cheapskate, I order Little Caesars thinking to myself "Pizza is pizza. I'm willing to give up quality for the price"... And then I take my first bite and regret it EVERY TIME. It's just so bad, even factoring in the price. But when I'm hungry, I forget and order it like 4 times a year.

  • @MK-of7qw
    @MK-of7qw ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Awesome story. Good to see little Caesars still going strong.

  • @billlong963
    @billlong963 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    For those of you who loved it, there is still a Little Caesars Pizza Station at the Kmart store in Upper Tumon, Guam (there are also four successful Kmart stores in the Virgin Islands, but they don't have Little Caesars).

  • @pamelamays4186
    @pamelamays4186 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I love Little Cesar's affordable menu offerings. It's a good way to provide take out pizza when money's tight.🍕💸

    • @jd9119
      @jd9119 ปีที่แล้ว

      Even if money isn't so tight, the pizza isn't bad (I've paid a lot more for worse). It's not about how much money you make, it's about how much you save.

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's my favorite. The food court at Costco is usually open to the public, and they sell giant pizzas (18" is larger than most places 'extra large' size) for only about $9. I prefer LC's pizza, but Costco's will feed more people.

  • @NegativeReferral
    @NegativeReferral 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Little Caesar's will forever remind me of school socials and events.

  • @JoshValdez1996
    @JoshValdez1996 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    “Now THATS some crazy bread.”
    Omg I hate you weird food history writer lmao

  • @carschmn
    @carschmn ปีที่แล้ว +2

    We used to have little Caesar’s pizza parties when I was in 5th grade in 1996. Good times.

  • @Steve.N1977
    @Steve.N1977 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I remember eating Little Caesars for the first time as a kid inside a K-mart. The pizza was so much better back then.

    • @joez.2794
      @joez.2794 ปีที่แล้ว

      If you were a skinny skinny kid, that's why. The only way LC (or that Friday "school lunch" pizza if you've ever tried to find it), will ever taste that good again, is f you get your waist < 30" :-)

    • @housemana
      @housemana ปีที่แล้ว

      @@joez.2794 shut up boomer

    • @joez.2794
      @joez.2794 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@housemana I'm so sorry you were bullied as an XL kid

    • @Sandman27-88
      @Sandman27-88 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      All the little Caesars inside k marts-you can find em vary rarely here and there have the old pizza style before the rebrand

  • @andyblargextra
    @andyblargextra ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Little Caesars was so powerful, that after they branched out of being secluded to K-Mart, K-Mart went bankrupt

  • @nrrork
    @nrrork ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Hey, Pizza Hut was fine dining for kids of the 80s and 90s.
    And they served pitchers of beer, so dads loved it too. Or at least the ones in my area did.

  • @ProtoMario
    @ProtoMario ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thats crazy cause Blue Line just bought out a big recycling center here, central ohio.

  • @Robert5hw
    @Robert5hw ปีที่แล้ว +11

    For the price, I LOVED Little Caesars. Used to grab a $5 pizza on the way to work when I was on nights. Had to stop eating there though. Took a bite and broke a tooth. Cost me around $450 to get it fixed (no dental insurance). Figured it was a fluke so tried them again and got something, bone or rock, stuck between teeth. Gave them up for good at that point. Not going to risk breaking anymore teeth because they use cheap cornmeal to dust their pans.

    • @pam8962
      @pam8962 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Sorry to hear that 😞

    • @MrJunhoC
      @MrJunhoC ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Dentist here. Teeth were prolly in a bad condition and hollowed out from cavity. Eventually, anything will break it at that point. It just happened to be lil caesars since you were eating a lot of it at the time.

    • @eno6712
      @eno6712 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah dude this can happen from anything overly toasted , the angles can even chip away at your teeth.
      I had to get a Cap because of an English Muffin.

    • @queenofnyc5584
      @queenofnyc5584 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      That’s not little carsars fault you have poor dental hygiene my guy

    • @Robert5hw
      @Robert5hw ปีที่แล้ว

      FYI, nothing wrong with my teeth. Haven't had cavities since I was a kid. Never had any issues before or since. If the tooth had been bad, the dentist would have pushed for a crown or implant rather than a simple repair.

  • @DJHLX3
    @DJHLX3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    "I ate 40 pizzas for the past thirty days" is surreal. Someone made a song about that

  • @dmcgee3
    @dmcgee3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    My economics professor said he thought Little Caesar’s was about the best bang for buck franchise you could get after talking to the employees one day and the units they sold just that day alone. Course having it across the street from a college was also a good idea.

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว

      It is... I'm good at economics and I also used to work at Domino's. The best bang for your buck is a LC's cheese stuffed crust Extra Most Bestest (you have to ask for the cheese stuffed version). The stuffed crust is way more filling, and doesn't cost much more.
      If you live near a Costco, their food court is usually open to the public and they sell a GIANT pizza for only about $9. It's an 18" pizza... compared to a Domino's large, which is 14", and a Domino's extra large, which is 16". If you're a Costco member, they also have very good take and bake pizzas inside the store (more than just cheese or pepperoni options, also 18"), which I find to be better and cheaper than Papa Murphy's.

  • @thehorrorhound6575
    @thehorrorhound6575 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The charity work and giving the unsold food away for free like that alone is enough to support these guys. The fact they don’t advertise it makes it feel all the more special because they aren’t doing it for attention. Mike’s wife was right, he really was trying to give his pizzas away for free lol.

  • @rhob2422
    @rhob2422 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Little Caesars never overplays who they are or takes themselves too seriously, they know who and what they are and make no qualms about it, tha'ts why they succeed.

    • @hxhdfjifzirstc894
      @hxhdfjifzirstc894 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      They also use very good cheese and pepperoni, and have low prices. Any company that gives customers a good value, year after year, is going to succeed.

  • @nice2008c
    @nice2008c ปีที่แล้ว +4

    $5-6 pizza with 0.15 cents worth of product with 98% of the product being dough/crust.

    • @93corvettebaby
      @93corvettebaby ปีที่แล้ว

      Great job defining All Pizza’s 👏 😂

  • @Marijuanasuana
    @Marijuanasuana ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Little Caesar’s is my go to when my stepmom doesn’t make dinner or when I’m stoned

  • @jeromethiel4323
    @jeromethiel4323 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I actually like the hot and ready pizza. Is it the best pizza? No. But it is decent pizza, now, and for an extremely low price. And those factors are important in the frantic pace people live their lives now. My local Little Caesars is constantly busy.

  • @katelyng1019
    @katelyng1019 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow, the Ilitch’s were/are such amazing people!! What an inspiring story and selfless couple.

  • @jeromethiel4323
    @jeromethiel4323 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    True story. I and 3 other work colleagues were in the California desert for about a year and a half building a solar power site.
    One day, i had to drive into the closest town, which was tiny, to buy some materials we needed. While i was in buying hardware from the hardware store, i noticed the K mart across the street. Went over and bought 3 hot and now pepperoni pizzas.
    When i got back, i only brought one pizza in with me. When my co-workers saw it was little Caesar's, they turned their noses up. But it wasn't long before all 3 were consumed.
    The main comment? "I didn't think they were any good, but this *IS* good."

  • @slimm2307
    @slimm2307 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That Kmart LC's just hit different.... you have been and always will be missed.

  • @nicholaskarafilis3836
    @nicholaskarafilis3836 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The brief anecdote about the owners paying Rosa Parks’ rent feels like a video unto itself

    • @jd9119
      @jd9119 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah I dont want to see that. It'd make me never want to buy one of their pizzas again.

  • @SWAVcast-
    @SWAVcast- ปีที่แล้ว

    "Its purpose -- revolution" = quality writing. That made my morning.

  • @Grayald
    @Grayald ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Oh man. Being a 12-year-old back in the early '90s during the great pizza wars. What a magical time to be a kid. God I miss it.
    But you just can't beat the convenience of ordering a Little Caesars pizza on the app, driving over, and then being in and out of the building in less than 1 minute thanks to the pizza portal.
    But still I'd trade it for a second to go back to the Pizza wars

  • @edkeaton
    @edkeaton ปีที่แล้ว +2

    My Dad used to get my brothers and I Little Caesar's Pizza when we kids, and didn't feel like cooking anything. Their pizza was delicious in my opinion, but it was their crazy bread and sauce that I just couldn't get enough of! 😋❤️🍕🥖

  • @spaceodds1985
    @spaceodds1985 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Never saw it in the UK

  • @rkenzie5235
    @rkenzie5235 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’m in Guatemala right now and Little Ceasars is so popular with locals here!!!!

  • @kingprui40dash
    @kingprui40dash ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I remembered eating Little Caesars when I was a kid.

  • @jamiemason2003
    @jamiemason2003 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Two people with no college education, in a time when minimum wage was a dollar, managed to save $10k all on their own in a matter of months.
    Times have changed.

  • @caseymauldin8396
    @caseymauldin8396 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I’d love to see history of Subway, Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s, Jersey Mike’s.

    • @WastedTalent-
      @WastedTalent- ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Can't forget Quizno's. I pine for a Steakhouse Beef Dip sub.

    • @caseymauldin8396
      @caseymauldin8396 ปีที่แล้ว

      Quizno's Prime Rib and Peppercorn will always have a place in my heart.

  • @rgeiler7627
    @rgeiler7627 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Should have made an honorable mention of when Mike made that bet like 5 years ago and lost, resulting in everyone in the country getting a free lunch combo.
    There's nothing like having the oven completely packed with deep dish pans for two hours straight. What a nightmare.

  • @GroundersSourceOfficial
    @GroundersSourceOfficial ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Little Caesrs was my family's go-to every other weekend. With four kids, it was a great deal. I really love the thick crust more than anything and the mushrooms.

  • @shane87smith
    @shane87smith ปีที่แล้ว +2

    too bad the prices are now too high to justify the crappy pizza. $5 I can let it go, now that it is over $7.50 for a "hot n ready" pizza, it's unacceptable

  • @ArcheWhatzitGonnaB3
    @ArcheWhatzitGonnaB3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Little Caesar's pepperoni pizzas have always been just a step above Domino's and their cardboard crust, but the lunch combo isn't something to scoff at. It's good that the Deep Deep Dish stuck around and wasn't a limited time thing like their pretzel pizza. The staple Crazy Bread and Italian Cheese Breads are still leagues above when you'd find at a different pizza place, and once they nail the dessert pizza, there will be no stopping them.

  • @shaneg9081
    @shaneg9081 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Seeing all of those old timey prices makes me cry.

  • @RockSplitter
    @RockSplitter ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Yes! The Proper Dude!

  • @DarkIceKrabby
    @DarkIceKrabby ปีที่แล้ว +1

    While I don't love Little Ceasar's pizzas, they just have that unique taste/texture/whatever that I get nostalgic for every couple of years.
    If I want an actually good pizza, I'll usually just go to my favorite local place. But nothing can really compare to the tasty low quality Little Caesar's pizza.

  • @alanhyt79
    @alanhyt79 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    How did Little Caesar's became...?

  • @RK831
    @RK831 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Little Caesar's came to my hometown in the late 80's. They had a great special: the Baby Pan! Pan! It was only $2 and very delicious because the cheese and crust were very crispy, there was a little more cheese, four pepperoni slices in each square, and the right amount of marinara sauce. I was hooked on them!

  • @bridaw8557
    @bridaw8557 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Little Caesars pizza is to pizza as Taco Bell is to Mexican food.

    • @joez.2794
      @joez.2794 ปีที่แล้ว

      Have you been to TB lately? Their prices are out of control....

  • @chrisjamesr77
    @chrisjamesr77 ปีที่แล้ว

    I was a big fan of the Detroit Drive of the Arena Football League back in the late 80s and early 90s. Mike Illitch was their owner, but sold them when he bought the Tigers, and they moved and became the Massachusetts Marauders. The Drive were like THE team in arena football in their short existence, they won 4 championships in their 6 years in Detroit.

  • @jonsmith6496
    @jonsmith6496 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    It’s the dude! 👍

  • @thomasnguyen4427
    @thomasnguyen4427 ปีที่แล้ว

    I’ve literally never seen any adverts of it anywhere, not on tv, not on billboards, and not even on the highway! here in the New England coast, until I started getting recommended fast food-related & business channels like WHF and company man, etc.

  • @mrdethbuzzard4885
    @mrdethbuzzard4885 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Little Caesars Pizza Pizza.... sucks sucks

    • @jd9119
      @jd9119 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not any worse than Papa John's or Domino's.

    • @MsDisneylandlover
      @MsDisneylandlover ปีที่แล้ว

      It is nasty msybe it was good back in the day but it is nasty now

    • @MsDisneylandlover
      @MsDisneylandlover ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@JD 911 that is nasty now but pizza hunt is best or cpk.

    • @jd9119
      @jd9119 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MsDisneylandlover cpk is probably the worst. But I don't like pizza hut either. Probably Hungry Howie's is the best of the chains.

  • @AshleyFromTX
    @AshleyFromTX ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow, I had no idea the owners did so much for charity. Another interesting watch! Thanks WHF

  • @runoflife87
    @runoflife87 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You mean, how the became one of the worst pizza makers ever? Because LC really are that bad.

  • @travnich
    @travnich ปีที่แล้ว +1

    the funniest commercials of the 90's and late night crazy bread when i had the munchies is what it think of when i think of Little Caesars

  • @AtheistPilgrim
    @AtheistPilgrim ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I remember when you could get a milk carton-sized soda from Little Caesar's.

  • @loriloretta7639
    @loriloretta7639 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Mike Ilitch was an amazing man.
    So much nostalgia for me.

  • @georgewilliams8357
    @georgewilliams8357 ปีที่แล้ว

    I remember back when the Little Caesars Pizza chains were one time located all over metro Atlanta for more than 30 years ago, but during the late 1990's the franchise chain vanished, and did not return back to the Atlanta metro area until 2008 fifteen years ago and has been back in Atlanta ever since.

  • @RageyRage82
    @RageyRage82 ปีที่แล้ว

    I remember when I lived in a city, I would get Little Caesars almost every week sfter work on Fridays. That was Canadian dollars, and they were about $6 taxes included. The manager of that location even sent their mascot to deliver pizza to a concert I promoted. They sponsored the concert, and so they sold their pizzas at the show, and we got a cut, at a loss to them.
    And a couple of years ago, one opened up in a town near by where I live now. 20 years later, $6 including taxes for a pepperoni hot n ready pizza. Just as good as I remembered! I always get one when I go to that town!
    Great company!

  • @GuppyCzar
    @GuppyCzar ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Are we just going to pretend we didn't just see that Little Caesar sold chicken, fish, and shrimp!?