The story began in 1949 when Cosimo "Gus" Fricano opened the original Fricano's Pizza Tavern in Grand Haven, Michigan. At a time when pizza was virtually unknown in the region, Gus introduced this novel dish to his patrons. Initially met with skepticism—even from his own Sicilian mother—Gus persisted, often giving away pizzas to familiarize locals with the concept. His dedication paid off, and by 1976, the tavern was selling over 1,000 pizzas in a single night