Johnny's Pizza is 50

Bonnie Bolden, Greg Hilburn and Barbara Leader

When people who moved away from northeastern Louisiana come home to visit, the first thing they want to eat, other than home cooking, is Johnny's pizza.

The regional chain started in Monroe in September 1967 on DeSiard Street across from what is now the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The small building had three parking spaces and relied heavily on foot traffic from the university.

Johnny Huntsman, founder of Johnny's Pizza House, remembered all of the gimmicks he used at the original Johnny's Pizza restaurant in a 2001 interview with The News-Star.

"I'd put somebody on hold and ring up a fake sale on the register where they could hear it, just to act like we were busy," Huntsman said, laughing. "I'd borrow my mother's car to park out front to look like there was somebody eating here. It was day-to-day for a while."

Today, the company has 38 corporate locations and 11 franchises, most of which are across northern Louisiana; one is in Arkansas and one is in east Texas. Johnny's Pizza House Inc. employs almost 750 people.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Melvin DeLacerda, the chain is looking to the future and plans to expand through corporate growth and strategic franchising.

He said the company is celebrating its golden anniversary throughout the year. ...

Johnny's Pizza celebrates 50 years

Original location on DeSiard: