BOSTON PIZZA CELEBRATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

BOSTON PIZZA CELEBRATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

A Canadian company with an American name founded by a Greek sailor serving Italian food.

In 1964, a Greek immigrant by the name of Gus Agioritis opened a single pizza restaurant and bar in Edmonton, naming it after a city he hoped to one day visit. Today, Boston Pizza is the largest Casual Dining Brand in the country and remains proudly 100% Canadian with hundreds of locally owned and operated franchise locations from coast-to-coast. There are now hundreds of locations across the country, as well as restaurants in the U.S. and Mexico.

So thank you, our most loyal guests for being part of this journey with us!

LOOKING BACK ON THE LAST 60 YEARS

1964

Boston Pizza was founded in Penticton, British Columbia by a Greek immigrant named Gus Agioritis. Our founder thought pizza was the best food and more people HAD to taste it!

1966

A young RCMP officer named Jim Treliving visits a Boston Pizza not knowing what pizza is at all. Jim is impressed by this 'round thing' that you eat without cutlery and becomes a regular guest at Gus’s store.

1968

Jim Treliving leaves RCMP and opens his first BP restaurant in Penticton, BC. This was the 5th restaurant in the chain and still exists to this day!

1973

With the idea of expansion in mind, Jim brings in George Melville, a great friend and BP pizza lover, to become his business partner.

1978

Boston Pizza grows far beyond what Gus ever imagined and is now ready to hang up his apron. He sells the franchise rights to Ron Coyle, a former banker and multi-unit franchisee.

1983

Jim and George purchase Boston Pizza International Inc. and its chain of 44 restaurants from Ron Coyle.

1984

U.S expansion begins with first location in Seattle, Washington named Boston's The Gourmet Pizza.

1986

Boston Pizza participates in Expo 86 in Vancouver. We were an immediate hit, serving pizza to over 200,000 people per day - that's 1 guest every 20 seconds! Everyone in Canada, and the world, knew about BP by the time Expo 86 wrapped.

1990

The Boston Pizza Foundation is established. Nearly $40 million has been raised and donated to charities in communities from coast to coast and around the world to this day.

1993

Paper hearts debuts on Valentine's Day. Boston Pizza continues to sell heart-shaped pizzas and paper hearts as a fundraiser to support local charities in communities all across Canada to this day.

1994

Boston Pizza named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies, an award it has received every year since!

1996

Big milestone for BP: our 100th restaurant opens in Cold Lake, Alberta.

1997

Our guests' favourite spicy appetizer was born: the Cactus Cut Potatoes! This craveable menu item is still on our menu nearly 3 decades later for all of you to enjoy.

2002

Entered the Mexican market with first location in Monterrey. The next time you're in Mexico, make sure you visit Boston's!

2004

BP reaches 200th location milestone, opening in Kitchener, Ontario and Boston’s in the U.S. had grown to 25 locations!

2006

BP officially coast-to-coast, opens its first locations in Newfoundland and P.E.I.

2007

The 300th Boston Pizza location opened in Mississauga, ON.

2014

Our guests celebrated our 50th anniversary with us, with 85,000 pizzas delivered in one single day! Yup, you heard that right.

2020

While the world faced adversity with the pandemic, BP was still there to feed our millions of hungry guests through takeout and delivery!

CELEBRATE BP'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY WITH OUR NEW BEER!

With vibrant citrus and juicy flavours, this light-bodied craft is a refreshing tribute to our legacy. It’s bound to be a fan favourite!

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