in August 2025. Cicis was founded in 1985 by Joe Croce and Mike Cole in
Plano, Texas. In 2001, with 363 restaurants at the time, the chain expanded its buffet offerings and began remodeling restaurants. In 2003, Croce retired from the business, and passed ownership of the company to the company's executive team. Craig Moore, who was a general manager in
Dallas, became vice president of the company, a position he held for five years before he was named president after the sale. Croce gave 20% of his proceeds to
Gateway Church, where he was a member. As president of the chain, Moore oversaw the company's operations and franchise growth. Moore announced his retirement in 2009, after 17 years with the company. Michael Shumsky, previously CEO of
La Madeleine Restaurant, Inc. took over for Moore. Harris left the company in January 2018 and was replaced by Bill Mitchell as interim CEO. Mitchell was appointed to the position permanently in March 2018. Cicis pizza comes with traditional varieties such as pepperoni, meat-lovers, veggie, supreme and Hawaiian, but also has specialty pizzas such as macaroni and cheese, barbeque pork and Buffalo chicken. In 2022, the chain even offered a giant 28 inch pizza called "Piezilla". In November 2015, the company began a new marketing campaign which included the simplified renaming of the company to just Cicis with the modifier "Beyond Pizza," along with the addition of a new logo and redesigned website. The campaign is aimed at proving that Cicis has more to offer than just pizza. Cicis offers many additional items including chicken wings, pasta, salads and soups, dessert pizzas, cinnamon buns, and fudge brownies. Cicis filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021 due to the effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic; it had not benefitted from delivery due to its buffet model. It had recently reached an agreement to sell itself as well as its $82 million in liabilities to its primary lender, D&G Investors. Just two months after filing, Cicis emerged from bankruptcy and completed its sale. On January 19, 2026, Cicis Pizza did a collaboration with
Twitch streamer CaseOh. During this stream, he made a homemade version of Cicis macaroni and cheese pizza. Cicis also temporarily renamed their macaroni and cheese pizza to Mac & CaseOh pizza for promotion during the collaboration.
Recognition and awards From 2004 to 2009, CiCi's Pizza held third place in the pizza category for
Restaurants & Institutions "Consumers' Choice in Chains" contest, which is judged based on consumer reviews of the competing restaurant chains. In March 2009
''Men's Health'' gave CiCi's Pizza "top marks" in providing healthy food choices among its list of "66 major chain restaurants". ==See also==