Who founded the Papa John’s pizza franchise in 1984?

John Schnatter founded the Papa John’s pizza franchise in 1984.

Schnatter started the business in Jeffersonville, Indiana, by converting space behind his father’s tavern into a pizza kitchen. The first Papa John’s store opened in 1985, after the initial operation began serving customers through the tavern setting.

The company expanded using franchised restaurants, supported by centralized ingredients, a shared brand, and standardized preparation methods. Papa John’s became especially associated with delivery and its slogan, “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.”

A common mix-up concerns the founding and first-store dates. The company was founded in 1984, while its first standalone Papa John’s restaurant opened in 1985. The founder’s name is also often shortened informally to “Papa John,” the brand’s nickname.