"But over on the West Coast there is a pizza chain that has several dozen locations that beat them all to the punch. It was founded in 1954, and became a franchise just two years later, and while younger generations outside of its home state of California may not know it anymore, for several decades Shakey's was one of the kings of American pizza."
"Shakey's was started in Sacramento by Ed Plummer and Sherwood "Shakey" Johnson, who picked up the nickname that would grace his restaurant in World War II. Shakey's was part of the post-World War II pizza boom, but it was also founded as a pub that featured live music, which remained a major part of its appeal as it expanded. The chain grew rapidly under the founders ownership, and by the time they sold Shakey's in the late '60s there were almost 280 locations."
Shakey's Pizza opened in Sacramento in 1954 and franchised in 1956. Founders Ed Plummer and Sherwood "Shakey" Johnson combined pizza with a pub atmosphere and live music, fueling rapid expansion. The chain reached almost 280 locations by the late 1960s and peaked near 500 U.S. locations in the 1970s, with international outlets in Mexico, Canada, Japan, and the Philippines. Subsequent ownership changes and neglectful corporate management caused a long contraction. By 2025 Shakey's operates 43 U.S. locations, almost entirely concentrated in Southern California. The menu emphasizes its original pizza recipe, beer, fried chicken, and mojo potatoes.
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