---
title: "Mr Gatti's Pizza Chain Welcomes New Owners to Carry On Legacy of Four Generational Locations"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/3415bb2d-6310-411b-96a6-a806ab1b84ff
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20230922_mr_gatti39s_pizza_chain_welcomes_new_owners_to_carry_on_legacy_of_four_gene.html
category: "Pizza"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Pizza"
published: 2023-09-22T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T20:32:38.789Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561758033-d89a9ad46330?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Mr Gatti's Pizza Chain Welcomes New Owners to Carry On Legacy of Four Generational Locations

**TL;DR:** Mr Gatti's Pizza chain has new owners to carry on the legacy of four generational locations. The outgoing owners, who have been with the brand since as early as 1980, are passing the torch to new franchisees.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-09-22. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20230922_mr_gatti39s_pizza_chain_welcomes_new_owners_to_carry_on_legacy_of_four_gene.html).*

## Story

The outgoing owners, Dan Pyles and Rocky Gibbs of Ashland; Deb Slone, Connie Irick, and Leilani Wright of Corbin; Woody Neel of Elizabethtown, and John Zeidler of Evansville, have been pillars in their respective communities, some of whom have been with the Brand since as early as 1980. From hosting birthday parties to local sports team celebrations, the locations led by these successful entrepreneurs have offered more than just pizza; they've provided a sense of community.

“We're thankful for the strong foundation laid by our outgoing owners and excited for our new franchisees to build on that legacy,” said Jim Phillips, CEO at Mr Gatti’s Pizza. “As we welcome Ray, Mark, Eric, Marsha, Stacy, Charlotte, and Kirk, we are not only passing the torch but also are reinforcing our commitment to quality and service as we enter a new chapter for Mr Gatti's Pizza.”

This succession speaks to the franchise community that Mr Gatti's Pizza has built over the years. Each of the outgoing owners expressed confidence in the incoming teams, a sentiment that echoes throughout the franchise network. With the new owners now set to bring their visions and energy to these locations, customers can be reassured that the legacy of great food and community will be in good hands for years to come.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- succession planning (topic)
- new ownership (topic)
- Mr Gatti's Pizza (company)
- franchise community (topic)
- Jim Phillips (person)
- legacy locations (topic)

---
Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20230922_mr_gatti39s_pizza_chain_welcomes_new_owners_to_carry_on_legacy_of_four_gene.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/3415bb2d-6310-411b-96a6-a806ab1b84ff).