We know what you’re thinking. Food this delicious, with such character and freshness, must have a great story behind it. You would be correct. This is the story of the classic American dream… a dream built on a foundation of stringy cheese, pillowy bread, and one napkin which will forever remain legendary.

Dale, Irene, and their 5 children were like any other family, enjoying the life they had built in Jackson, Michigan. But one day, Dale was met with a desire for change, and his friend had just the plan. The two visited one of Cold Water, Michigan’s most well-known spots for pizza and subs. Dale’s friend knew the owner of this shop, who was willing to teach Dale his methods of dough mastery.

It wasn’t long before Dale was sold. The intoxicating aromas of fresh-baked goodness had made their mark, and after an entire summer of trial and error to get everything just right, Dale and Irene were ready for their next adventure. “We can do this!” they told themselves. So they set off… with a napkin bearing the magical recipe in their pockets, and the desire to spread flavorful joy in their hearts. Dale and Irene followed in the footsteps of the trailblazers before them and headed West to Twin Falls, Idaho, ready to share their new-found flavors with the Gem State.

In 1984, Papa Kelsey’s was born. A history of dough domination spanning five different decades has made Papa Kelsey’s into a well-known brand, adored in communities throughout Idaho. Now, a new dough dream is rising… to expand the brand and reach new mouths through the power of franchising.

If the need for creating delicious food and making stomachs smile is something you just can’t resist, we would love to hear from you. Contact us to learn how you can bring the amazing flavors of Papa Kelsey’s pizza and subs to your community.