Casey's Pizza Turns 40! Who Invented Iowa's Favorite Pizza?

While no one is sure which gas station served the very first piece of pizza, here in the state of Iowa the first gas station pizza slice came from Casey's. As Casey's prepares to celebrate 40 years of serving gas station pizza we take a look back at the man who started it all.

When Did Casey's Begin Selling Pizza in Stores?

The year was 1984. The Des Moines Register reports that a Casey's franchise in Corning, Iowa began experimenting with the foods they served in their store. The experiment was a success and by 1985 Casey's began expanding pizza to all its other stores in Iowa. The Register reports that 40 years later Casey's sells 28 million pizzas a year and last year sold $700 million worth of pizza.

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Who Invented Casey's Pizza?

The creator of the first Casey's Pizza was Jim Larkin. The Register reports that Larkin was a Creston, Iowa native who worked as a funeral director in the 1970s. During the 1980s Larkin also became Casey's largest franchisee. One of his stores was located in Corning, Iowa. After a local pizza restaurant closed Larkin began making pizza in his small Casey's kitchen and the rest is history!

Casey's Celebrates 40 Years of Pizza!

The Register reports that Casey's is celebrating its pizza anniversary Thursday by offering customers a Mega slice for just 40 cents and offering a 40% discount on any pizza to customers who use the promo code BIRTHDAY on the Casey's app.

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All of Iowa's Best Burger Winners Since 2010

Every year, the Iowa Beef Industry Council puts on a contest to figure out which restaurant has the most delicious burger in the state. Here are all all the honorees that are still in business as of February 2025:

Gallery Credit: Courtlin