For most of their lives, cousins Chuck Thompson and Brian Baker have been in the pizza business. When Chuck was a child, his father and Brian's uncle, Robert, put a bed in the back room of his Columbus, Ohio, restaurant, Joseppi's Pizza Robert Thompson opened the restaurant in 1969 and taught Chuck how to make a pizza when he was only four years old. 

With all those years of experience behind him, Chuck and his father always planned for him to take over the restaurant when his father retired; however, things happened sooner than anticipated. In 1998, Chuck's father was killed in a motorcycle accident. Although it was earlier than planned, Chuck sold his trucking company and took over the two-store business to carry on his father's legacy. 

"We entered the 1999 Columbus Pizza Challenge and came in first place in all three categories. It was the first time any restaurant had done that in the ten years this challenge had been around," Chuck explains.  One of the best things about this competition was that one of the category judges was from a local radio station.  Consider the free publicity gained by pleasing the taste buds of a local disc jockey—there's probably no better way to promote your pizza than with a satisfied DJ.

The winning didn't stop there. Chuck explains, 'We also competed in the Grove City Pizza Olympics and took home the Gold Medal for the best crust and toppings. Recently, we placed first in the Gourmet Pizza category at the 2000 Mid-America Restaurant, Soft Serve & Pizza Show.' Due to their success in these competitions, Joseppi's Pizza has had its name published nationwide. Not only did they get local media coverage, but they were featured in `Za News in the December 1999 issue of Pizza Today and named the Restaurant of the Month on Okidata's web site.

So what is Joseppi's secret to winning all of these pizza competitions? "I believe our pizza is popular because we make our own dough and sauce from scratch. We also make our own sausage—a claim not many restaurants can make. Our best secret is our dedication to providing customers with the best pizza while always being open to new ideas," Chuck declares.

They have all the ingredients for success: a strong family commitment, award-winning pizza, and most of all, the traditions passed down from Chuck's father.

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Chuck Thompson passed away in 2018 after a brave battle with cancer. Succeeding him in running the local chain is his cousin, Brian Baker, who was taught everything about pizza and community by his Uncle Bob, founder Robert Thompson. Energized and excited to explore new pizza options for customers, Brian is ready to continue the tradition started by his uncle and modernize a Columbus favorite.