Operations

Donatos celebrates 60 years, debuts proprietary tech

Provided

June 9, 2023

Donatos recently held a ceremony and ribbon cutting at its first restaurant on Thurman Avenue in Columbus, Ohio to celebrate the brand's 60th anniversary. The family-owned company honored its past while also unveiling new innovation being developed for its restaurants, according to a press release.

The ceremony was emceed by Donatos CEO Tom Krouse. Also on hand were Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, State Senator Hearcel Craig, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and Ohio Restaurant Association President John Barker. Four generations of the founding Grote family were also in attendance, as were several original crew members. The restaurant was founded on May 31, 1963.

"Jim Grote opened more than just a pizza shop 60 years ago," Krouse said in his remarks during the ceremony. "He opened minds to a different way to do business – one that was built with virtues, character and ethics. What started with an 800-square-foot location is now a 300-million-dollar company that serves pizza and principles in 27 states across the country."

Grote was just 19 when he launched the company. "Many people told me that if I brought my morals and principles with me that my business would fail," he said at the event. "I was determined to prove them wrong. I've always believed if you treat people the way that you want to be treated and lead with love in every decision you make, that things will work out."

Tours of the recently remodeled original location included the first public viewing of new technology being developed for the brand by Agápe Automation, which is located in the Edge Innovation Hub on the Donatos campus. These included the SM^RT Saucer, the SM^RT Ring, the SM^RT Pepp and the SM^RT Cutter. The new technology is designed to speed up the pizza-making process while ensuring consistent quality. It also reduces some of the repetitive tasks that associates have typically done and allows for their time to be reallocated to serving customers more effectively.

Donatos has 455 locations in 27 states.