History of Shakeys Essay

Shakeys Pizza was founded in Sacramento, California, on April 30, 1954, by Sherwood Shakey Johnson and Ed Plummer. Johnsons nickname resulted from nerve damage following a bout of malaria suffered during World War II. The parlor opened on the first weekend, but since the pizza pie ovens were not yet completed, only beer was served and Shakey took the profits from beer sales and bought ingredients for pizza the following Monday. Shakey personally played dixieland jazz piano to entertain patrons. Shakeys initially became known outside Sacramento, not for its pizza, but for the jazz political program it sponsored on a regional radio network. Shakey Johnson is honored in the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for his longtime use of banjo music at his pizza parlors. some other live music, including piano, was also a staple in the old Shakeys parlors. The original store (a remodeled grocery store) at 57th and J Streets in Sacramento remained in business until the mid 19 90s. ExpansionThe second Shakeys Pizza Parlor opened in Portland, Oregon, in 1956. Shakeys opened their third parlor in Albany, Oregon, in 1959, which was the first building Shakeys actually owned and the first building to be built in the distinct building style for which Shakeys is known. It now operates as a used bookstore. According to Johnson, Shakeys Pizza engaged in little market research and made most of its decisions on where to locate stores by going where Kinney Shoes opened stores. By the time Johnson sold his interest in 1967, there were 272 Shakeys Pizza Parlors in the linked States. The first international store opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1968. By 1975, the company had expanded to the Pacific Rim, including Japan and the Philippines. There are now more than branches in the Philippines (then under San Miguel Corporation) than in the United States. Sale to Colorado MillingShakey Johnson sold his half of the company for $3 million to Colorado Milling and r ise in 1967, which acquired Plummers half for $9 million the next year.Second sale Shakeys was again sold, this time to Hunt International Resources in 1974. twain franchisees bought the chain in 1984 and they sold out to Inno-Pacific Holdings of Singapore in 1989. Most of the U. S. stores closed during the time Inno-Pacific owned the chain. Some of the remaining franchisees took Inno-Pacific to court in 2003. onwards this could come to trial, Shakeys was sold to Jacmar Companies of Alhambra, California, in 2004. Jacmar had been the franchisee of 19 Shakeys restaurants. At the time Hunt International bought Shakeys in 1974, the restaurant chain had somewhat 500 stores throughout the United States, including a store as far east as Cockeysville, Maryland.As of 2008, there were 63 stores total, with 55 of them in California. As of June 4, 2011, there are 58 Shakeys restaurants in the US. 51 are located in California, the remainder are located in Auburn, Alabama Nogales, genus Arizon a Warner Robins, Georgia Waipahu, Hawaii American Fork, Utah Renton, Washington and Spokane, Washington. Shakeys has begun to open new franchises in new and existing territories. The most recent Shakeys opened was in American Fork, Utah, with a sideboard available open to close. Shakeys in Iowa, Illinois and Northwest Indiana also featured an all day buffet in the 80s. Other locations typically offer a weekday lunchtime buffet only.