Which pizza chain was founded by Tom Monaghan?

Domino's was founded by Tom Monaghan. In 1960, Monaghan and his brother James borrowed money to take over DomiNick's, a small pizza shop in Ypsilanti, Michigan, near Eastern Michigan University.

The brothers soon divided the business responsibilities, and Tom eventually acquired his brother's share in exchange for a Volkswagen Beetle. After expanding to additional locations, Monaghan needed a new name because the original owner would not allow continued use of “DomiNick's.” An employee suggested “Domino's,” which Monaghan adopted in 1965.

The company's early strategy emphasized delivery to college communities. Domino's also used a stackable insulated pizza box that helped keep pizzas warm and made it possible to transport several orders without crushing them. The familiar three-dot logo represented the three stores the company had when the logo was created.

Monaghan remained the principal owner for decades and retired from active involvement in 1998, when he sold most of his stake to Bain Capital. The chain's founding story is therefore tied to both brothers, but Tom Monaghan is the canonical founder associated with Domino's.