At the age of 17. Dave Boyles started working at South Dixie Pizza Chef (better known as the "Hut". The owner, Wesley "Bud" Warwick, owned all of the Pizza Chefs in Lima and the surrounding towns. Dave was still in high school. After graduation, Dave continued to work at the "Hut" while attending OSU Branch - Lima as well as always maintaining another full time job. After the death of his mother in 1973, college had to be moved down on the priorities list. Dave continued to work at the "Hut" full time while working full time at jobs such as Lima Register and Agrico. In September of 1975, Dave Boyles and Bud Warwick formed a partnership; thus the very beginning of Fat Jack's Pizza. At the age of 21 Dave was going into business for himself. In December of 1975. Dave married Linda Kissel and later that same month, Fat Jack's Pizza opened at 801 Findlay Rd. Lima, Ohio. Fat Jack's Pizza offered pizza, subs, salads, BBQ Ribs and Chicken along with a full line of party supplies and beverages for carry out only. We started with five employees and we were open seven days a week. The name for the new operation was a tribute to our longtime friend and manager of Elmview Pizza, "Fat Jack" Lyman. Although he was not an owner Jack was pleased to see his name "in lights" on the new store. The first year we grossed $140,000 and showed a small profit. David Boyles bought Bud's half of the business in early 1977 as Bud pursued other interests. In 1978, an addition that doubled the size of the building was completed. The business prospered and grew each year. In July of 1982, Fat Jack's Pizza opened a second location at 1806 N. West. St.. This store offered both carry out and dine in services. We started with fourteen employees and maintained the same hours (10 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week). In April of 1985 the Findlay Rd. store suffered a major fire. The main building had to be demolished (the addition of 1978 was salvaged). The store was completely rebuilt and reopened in August. Luckily we had the West St. location to sustain us through that most difficult time. In 1997 we started a two-year expansion at the West St. location. The carryout was completely redone in Phase I and the dining room was done in Phase II. All work was completed by January 1999. The expansion doubled the size of the West St. location. All work was completed while still maintaining regular business hours. In 2001, Fat Jack's Pizza received the "Small Business of the Year" Award given by the LimalAllen County Chamber of Commerce. Fat Jack's Pizza has been recognized as the "Lima News Best of the Region" place for pizza for the last 8 years. We have also been named for 4 years running as one the "Hot 100 Independents" by Pizza Today, a national pizza industry publication. 2007 finds both locations very prosperous. Findlay Rd. now has 13 employees and the West St. location has 42 employees. Both locations are open fifteen hours a day, 364 days a year (we are closed December 25). Both locations are top ranked lottery agents of the Ohio Lottery. Fat Jack's Pizza is a service-oriented business. That service starts directly with the employees. In this era of "employee drought" we have managed to retain some excellent employees. Years of service from some of our employees rack up numbers that are almost unheard of in the food industry. One of our main goals (and biggest challenge) is to find and retain high quality employees. We have been able to accomplish this by offering paid vacations, 401K, insurance, attendance bonuses, year end bonuses; along with above average pay scales for the food industry. Fat Jack's Pizza was one of the first independent food service operations to offer a full employee participatory 401K with employer match. We have 98% participation in our plan (which are phenomenal numbers in any industry!) Service, consistency, and high quality ingredients have been the recipe for our success. We would like to thank everone for his or her loyal patronage and support throughout the years. 2007 saw a total renovation of the Findlay Rd. locations kitchen. It certainly makes condititions cooler to work in. A kitchen remodel for the West St. location is also scheduled for 2007, which will be a very large undertaking, while remaining open during renovation. Dave, Linda, Nick, Greg and Julie Boyles