In 1947, Rocky D'Augustino, an orphan from New Haven, Connecticut, moved out west to California. One of the first things he discovered was that the wonderful pizza from his old neighborhood did not exist in his new hometown. Renting the old pharmacy building from the Mantelli family, Rocky introduced the first and only pizza house between Los Angeles and San Francisco. After nine years in business, Rocky decided to move north.
At that time, Frank D'Ambrosio Sr., also from New Haven, was looking for a business opportunity for his brother John and himself. When their WWII buddy, Luigi, expressed interest in joining his friends in the new venture, ?Frankie, Johnnie, & Luigi Too!? was born.