Mike & Marian Ilitch's Pizza Empire| May 8 episode artwork

EPISODE · May 8, 2026 · 1 MIN

Mike & Marian Ilitch's Pizza Empire| May 8

from Michigan Minute

On this day in 1959, Mike and Marian Ilitch opened their first Little Caesars restaurant in Garden City, Michigan. Mike, a former Detroit Tigers farm team shortstop, turned to pizza after an injury. Their $10,000 investment grew into the world's largest carry-out pizza chain, enabling them to own other businesses in food, sports, and entertainment.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 8, 2026

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Mike & Marian Ilitch's Pizza Empire| May 8

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