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1. It all started in a broom closet.
Founder John Schnatter graduated from college in three years and immediately proceeded to work at his father's failing bar-lounge. After revamping the tavern entirely and paying of all of his dad's debuts, Schnatter set up shop in an 8-by-10-foot space to cook pizzas. In one year, they were selling 4,000 pizzas in a week.
2. A Camaro kept the early business alive.
Schnatter sold his beloved 1971 Chevrolet Camaro to keep his broom closet operation running. He didn't get it back until 2009 — after using his fame to track down the exact vehicle, gold and black racing stripes and all.
3. Its rivalry with Pizza Hut is intense (and maybe forever).
Back in the '90s, Pizza Hut took it personally when Papa John's began to grow and take some of its customers. And things only escalated as Papa John's pushed its "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza" tagline. The two brands even engaged in a legal battle over the slogan. To this day they are still bitter enemies in the biz.
4. The crust and sauce are vegan.
Papa John's original hand-tossed crust is vegan so anything you order without meat and cheese will suit a vegan diet. Plus, the garlic dipping sauce is also vegan so you can add a little something creamy to your cheese-less 'za.
4. Papa John's holds the record for pizza-tossing.
The brand set a Guinness World Record for the most people tossing pizza dough simultaneously —338 people, to be exact — to celebrate the opening of its 300th location in the U.K.
5. Papa John Schnatter insured his hands.
Yep, you read that right. The pizza master values his digits — which are responsible for the successful first crusts — so much that he's insured them for $15.3 million.
6. He also owns a ridiculous mansion.
After filming a promotional video for its first-ever online ordering system back in 2010, fans recently freaked out about the insane spot Schnatter calls home. It reportedly includes an underground parking garage with 22 spaces, a man-made lake, in-ground pool, and glass atrium. Hot damn, man.
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