The company's name is an acronym which stands for "Made on Demand." MOD Pizza operates as a build-your-own style restaurant, where the food is made in front of the customer on-demand.
Piping hot pizzas are cooked in just three minutes using an 800° oven and if the customer doesn't like their first creation, they get a do-over free. MOD Pizza (MOD is short for Made On Demand), is the brainchild of Scott and Ally Svenson who were trying to figure out an economical way to feed their four hungry boys.
Lastly, we all love their No Name Cakes. They are like a gourmet Ding Dong – moist and fluffy Devils Food Cake cut into large circles, piped with a cream filling, then the whole thing is coated in a thin chocolate ganache. The dark chocolate ganache complements the sweet filling and devils food cake really well.
Schwarzenegger went on to franchise his own Blaze Pizza locations, including one at USC while he was a student there, and one at The Grove in Los Angeles.
Elite Restaurant Group, a Los Angeles-based company that has been collecting struggling restaurant chains for years—many out of bankruptcy—has acquired 100% equity in Bellevue, Washington-based MOD.
Why is it called a Ding Dong Cake? Created by Vachon Bakery in Canada in 1932, it was originally called the Joe Louis after the boxer of the same name. In 1967, Hostess adapted it and renamed it a ding dong. The name was given by the Hostess marketing team to coincide with a TV ad campaign featuring a ringing bell.
A critical factor in MOD Pizza's downfall was their oversized real estate footprint, a challenge that aligns with Jonathan Maze's observations about the high cost of their leases. The typical new MOD restaurant is approximately 2,400 to 2,800 square feet and seats approximately 70 to 80 customers.
It turns out James has been heavily involved with Blaze Pizza since the chain's beginning. And while he doesn't own the whole thing, he did play a major part in the chain's success. In addition to his financial investments, James' leverage and fanbase helped guide the fledgling pizza place into the public eye.
Maddy is on the wall of each of our restaurants, and the Maddy pizza inspires us every day. Sweet Maddy passed away at the age 8 of Leukemia just as MOD was opening our first restaurant.
Mega Dough is our classic 11″ pizza but with double the dough. Mega Dough uses our classic dough recipe with simple ingredients that you know and love: King Arthur Flour, sea salt, water, yeast — simple food for complex times.
The fast-casual pizza chain announced that Elite Restaurant Group is the new owner. "MOD is a beloved brand with a strong following," Beth Scott, CEO of MOD Pizza said in a statement. "We're excited to work with Elite Restaurant Group to strengthen MOD's future."
How much does it cost to buy into the MOD Pizza franchise? The estimated initial investment to open a MOD Pizza franchise ranges from $1 million to $1.3 million. This investment covers various startup costs, including the franchise fee, real estate, construction, equipment, and initial inventory.
Every pizza or salad is made on demand and completely unique, but the price always stays the same. We care deeply about sourcing superior, fresh ingredients with vibrant flavors, and remain committed to working with our partners on environmental impact, animal ethics, and fair labor practices.
The Key Lime No Name Cake is priced at $3.39-3.89 ($5.08 in Canada) depending on location and is available for dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery. MOD Rewards® members are eligible to receive exclusive offers on MOD seasonal items and more.
Our non-managerial store employees get tips on top of base salary. Squad members who work 30+ hours a week receive generous benefits. And yes, we offer free meals per shift and cool MOD swag.
Ho Hos are small, cylindrical, frosted, cream-filled chocolate snack cakes with a pinwheel design based on the Swiss roll. Made by Hostess Brands, they are similar to Yodels by Drake's and Swiss Cake Rolls by Little Debbie.
It's called Turkish crying cake because is so wet and white. So essential oily it's a chocolate cake that has been soaked in milk then topped with whipped cream and a ganache.
Indeed, up until recently, MOD has been growing steadily: In 2019, the company ended the year with 467 locations and $483.5 million in sales. In 2020, the company inched up to 489 despite COVID, and $461 million in sales. In 2021, the company finished with 506 locations and $590 million in sales.
Elite Restaurant Group, a company based in California, acquired the fast casual pizza chain. "MOD is a beloved brand with a strong following," Beth Scott, CEO of MOD Pizza said in a statement. "We're excited to work with Elite Restaurant Group to strengthen MOD's future."
In 2024, MOD Pizza closed 44 restaurants, dispelling rumors of bankruptcy and announcing it had a new owner, a USA TODAY report found. In April 2025, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the operation of 467 MOD Pizza locations across the nation listed on MOD's website; as of July 2025, only 457 are listed.
