Straw Hat Pizza

Straw Hat Pizza is a California-based pizza chain with a long history in the region’s restaurant scene. Founded in 1959 in San Leandro by Charlie Olson and Bill Henderlong, the company was among the first to introduce West Coast diners to pizza, quickly gaining recognition for its signature California-style crust and casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Over the decades, Straw Hat Pizza grew to become a familiar name across California and neighboring states, reaching its largest footprint in the 1980s.

As of November 2025, Straw Hat Pizza operates about 30 locations, with most stores situated in Northern and Central California and a smaller presence in Nevada. The brand continues to focus on its core menu of pizzas, salads, and appetizers, serving both dine-in and takeout customers. In recent years, Straw Hat Pizza has maintained a steady approach to growth, concentrating on suburban retail corridors and shopping centers that attract families and benefit from strong local traffic.

The past five years have seen the company refine its store formats to include both traditional dine-in restaurants and smaller express units, allowing for flexibility in site selection and adaptation to evolving retail environments. Straw Hat Pizza is actively seeking new franchisees in California and select Western states, aiming to open two to three new units annually through 2028, with particular attention to underserved markets in Northern and Central California as well as Nevada.

With more than six decades of brand recognition, a stable operating base, and a willingness to adjust its footprint to fit a variety of retail settings, Straw Hat Pizza offers a credible and adaptable option for landlords and developers looking for established foodservice tenants. The company’s ongoing franchise program emphasizes local ownership and community involvement, supporting its continued relevance in a competitive segment.