5 things to know about Cassano’s, Dayton’s oldest pizza chain

1. Founded in 1953. "Vic" Cassano, Sr. and his mother-in-law Caroline "Mom" Dinisi opened their first shop June 4, 1953 in a 20-by-15 foot room in the back of a Kettering grocery store. They sold 400 square-cut, thin-crust pizzas the first day.

2. An early franchise opportunity. Cassano's Pizza King was one of the first in the nation to franchise its stores in 1955. The company grew to 125 stores and by the 1970s it ranked in the top four pizza chains in the country.

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3. Expanding beyond pizza. An innovative entrepreneur, Cassano Sr. developed London Bobby Fish and Chips in the early 1980s, a popular shop for fish and chips. Today the vintage dish can still be found at the Kettering and Trenton Cassano's locations.

4. A family operation. Cassano Sr. retired in 1986 and his son Vic Cassano Jr. bought the company. Today the third generation runs the family business.

5. Historic location. In 2016, more than 60 years after it was founded, Cassano's Pizza King was honored by the State of Ohio with a historical marker placed outside the company headquarters in Kettering.

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