William Larson (businessman)
William R. Larson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 30, 1933 |
| Died | November 15, 2006 (aged 73) |
| Education | Palo Alto High School |
| Title | Founder of Round Table Pizza |
| Family | Bob Larson (son) |
William Ray Larson (January 30, 1933 – November 15, 2006) was an American businessman, and the founder of Round Table Pizza.[1]
Life and career
Larson was born in San Jose, California, on January 30, 1933, and was raised in Palo Alto, California.[2] He attended local schools in Palo Alto such as Palo Alto High School, who later left school and joined the U.S. Navy.[2]
After serving 4 years in the U.S. Navy, Larson worked several different jobs, gaining experience that ultimately led him to create his own restaurant.[1][2] He opened his first pizza parlor in Menlo Park, California on December 21, 1959 located at 1235 El Camino Real,[3] which was later moved to 1225 El Camino Real a few years later, and was owned by Bob Larson since 1987.[4] He named his new restaurant Round Table Pizza after the round redwood tables he and his father constructed.[5][6]
This original location in Menlo Park is now operated by franchise owner Karan Bal since 2024.[7]
After the success of the original Menlo Park location, Bill Larson started expanding across California in 1962.[8] In 1978, Larson sold the restaurant franchise,[9] and after that, Bill Larson repurchased the original Menlo Park location, demolishing the older structure, and built a custom Danish Tudor-style building just doors down.[10]
Death
Larson died in Palo Alto, California on November 15, 2006, at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Bill Larson, 73; founder of Round Table chain of pizza parlors". Los Angeles Times. November 21, 2006. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "William R. Larson Sr. (copied from PressReader.com)". The Mercury News. November 28, 2006. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ Marek, Grant (November 18, 2021). "The story of the man who still runs the first-ever Round Table". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 15, 2026 – via SFGATE.
- ↑ "Revisiting Round Table Pizza just shy of its 60th anniversary". In Menlo. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ Stolzoff, Simone (February 2, 2018). "These Two Silicon Valley Pizza Places Show The Challenges Posed By Automation And Inequality". Fast Company. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ "About". Round Table Pizza. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Bay Area owner of original Round Table Pizza sells business". San Francisco Chronicle. November 12, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Ubiquitous Bay Area pizza chain opens more restaurants". San Francisco Chronicle. December 19, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Article". San Francisco Chronicle. November 19, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ "How the original Round Table pizzeria got its start in Menlo Park". Mountain View Voice. January 22, 2025. Retrieved August 15, 2026.