Everybody likes pizza. So naturally, if you want to open a food spot, you go for the obvious: pizza. Because duh, demand. But the thing is, when everyone loves pizza, everyone has the same brilliant idea of opening a pizza place. That leads to an oversaturated market where only the strongest survive, and the rest fade into greasy, doughy oblivion.
Among those who disappeared were these six chains, which had real potential—some even had loyal followings — but they were eaten alive by the bigger sharks.
Pizza Haven
Pizza Haven — founded in Seattle in 1958 — was one of the first spots in the U.S. to deliver pizza straight to your door. It grew fast through the ’60s and ’70s, with more than 40 locations across the Pacific Northwest and California. But the ’90s hit, the big chains like Domino’s and Papa John’s rolled in, and Pizza Haven couldn’t keep up. By the late ‘90s, it was gonzo.
Cap’n’s Galley Pizza & Pipes
In the late 1960s, Bill Breuer transformed his underperforming Santa Claradinner spot into a sensational venue by combining pizza with live Wurlitzer organ performances. The gimmick worked — kids loved it, adults tolerated it, and Pizza & Pipes grew into a small chain with locations mainly in California and Washington.
However, the novelty waned. The massive organs were expensive to maintain, and Chuck E. Cheese brought in an animatronic rodent — apparently an edgier, even kitschier form of entertainment to go with your pizza. By the early 2000s, the chain had played its requiem and closed its last location.
ShowBiz Pizza Place
ShowBiz was Chuck E. Cheese before Chuck E. Cheese. It launched in 1980 and became the birthday destination — think dark arcade, sticky floors, and animatronic animals belting out off-key covers. But in 1984, ShowBiz actually bought Chuck E. Cheese after its parent company went bankrupt. Then, over the years, the Chuck E. brand became the favorite child, and by the early ’90s, ShowBiz was fully rebranded.
Eatza Pizza
If you grew up near a strip mall in the early 2000s, there’s no chance you haven’t been to Eatza Pizza at least once. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet chain that peaked around 2006, with more than 100 locations across 14 states and Puerto Rico. A year later, it was bought by International Franchise Associates and moved to Connecticut. But the business ran into trouble fast, and in 2008, the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Uno Due Go
Uno Due Go launched in 2008 as a fast-casual offshoot of Uno Pizzeria & Grill, offering pizza, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods — basically a quicker way to grab a bite without the sit-down wait. It was designed for busy spots like airports and city centers, and for a while, it looked like the idea might stick. However, by 2020, all locations had closed, including the Boston one, which shut down during the COVID-19 slump.
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Pizza Cucinova
Pizza Cucinova launched in 2013 in Ohio as a fast-casual spin-off from Sbarro (which, frankly, is teetering on making this list, too) . It aimed to serve artisan-style pizzas with fresh ingredients and wood-fired ovens. Targeting customers seeking something a bit more upscale than typical mall pizza, Pizza Cucinova turned into a mini-chain with a solid start but struggled to build a loyal customer base. The higher price point deterred many looking for quick pizza, and by 2019, all locations had quietly shut down.
