Founded in 1959 by former minor league shortstop Mike Ilitch and his wife Marian, Little Caesars is a carryout pizza chain with franchises throughout the United States and Canada. Before opening the first Little Caesars, Ilitch prepared pizzas at a Detroit nightclub and did informal research at local pizza restaurants when on the road with the Tigers’ farm team. After receiving a career-ending injury, Ilitch worked to build $10,000 in capitol and borrowed $15,000 to fulfill his dream of opening a pizza shop. The first restaurant was originally called Little Caesars Pizza Treat and was located in a strip mall in the Detroit suburb of Garden City. “Little Caesar” was Marian’s pet name for Mike.
