From a Detroit Kitchen to a Global Pizza Chain
Born in Detroit in 1929, Mike Ilitch was a former Marine and minor-league baseball player before he and his wife Marian opened the first Little Caesars Pizza Treat in Garden City, Michigan, in 1959. Their $10,000 investment and a simple promise—two pizzas for the price of one—would grow into the third-largest pizza chain in the world.
The 1982 "Pizza! Pizza!" advertising campaign made Little Caesars a household name across America, embedding the brand into Detroit's cultural identity and funding the Ilitch family's next great ambitions.
Owning the Red Wings, Tigers & the Fox Theatre
Ilitch purchased the Detroit Red Wings in 1982, transforming the franchise into a four-time Stanley Cup champion and earning his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1992 he bought the Detroit Tigers, keeping the team anchored in Detroit and later championing Comerica Park.
Beyond sports, Ilitch rescued and restored the historic Fox Theatre in 1988, converting the 1928 movie palace into one of the nation's top-grossing concert venues and a cornerstone of Detroit's entertainment revival.
A Family's Commitment
"Detroit gave us our start. Everything we've built, we've built to give back to this city."
— Mike Ilitch, on the Ilitch family's Detroit legacy
Legacy Timeline
Mike and Marian Ilitch open the first Little Caesars Pizza Treat in Garden City, Michigan, with a $10,000 investment.
Little Caesars launches the iconic 'Pizza! Pizza!' campaign, becoming one of the largest pizza chains in America.
Ilitch purchases the Detroit Red Wings, beginning a dynasty that would win four Stanley Cups.
Ilitch buys the Detroit Tigers, keeping the franchise rooted in Detroit and later driving Comerica Park's development.
Little Caesars Arena opens in The District Detroit, a $1.2 billion Ilitch-led entertainment district downtown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mike Ilitch?
Mike Ilitch was a Detroit entrepreneur who founded Little Caesars Pizza in 1959 and owned the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers. Through Ilitch Holdings, he became one of the most influential figures in Detroit's sports and business history.
What did Mike Ilitch own?
Ilitch owned the Detroit Red Wings (NHL), the Detroit Tigers (MLB), Little Caesars Pizza, and the Fox Theatre, which he restored into a premier national concert venue.
What is Little Caesars Arena?
Little Caesars Arena is a downtown Detroit venue opened in 2017 as the home of the Red Wings and Pistons, the centerpiece of the Ilitch family's $1.2 billion District Detroit development.