Fun Facts about Don Brand's Pizza
- Don Brand's Pizza was the second pizza shop in Canal Fulton, shortly behind the Your Pizza Shop
- Don Brand's Pizza was almost called Brandono's
- We opened with 1 refrigerator, 3 tables and 1 two-deck oven!
- Our first Saturday in operation we sold 88 pizzas with only 25 pizza pans! There were some fast dish washers on staff!
- It's a requirement that you at least try to learn to water-ski if you are hired at Don Brand's Pizza!
Interview with owner and operator, Don Brand

Favorite Pizza Topping(s): Spicy Pepperoni
Favorite Movie: Ben Hur
Favorite Music: Gospel, Andre Crouch and the Desciples. Secular, Bee Gees, Beach Boys and Neil Diamond are some
Next Best Thing to a Great Pizza: a great char-grilled hamburger!
What do you like to do when you're not working?
I don't know. I've never been not working. (Laughs) I like to water-ski, I like to workout, I like to bike, I like to wash my car. I like visiting friends and to be free during the day and not sitting behind a desk. I like the freedom of my job.
What is your favorite thing about owning a pizza shop?
I don't think there is one favorite thing. There is a bunch of stuff; well, okay, employees all working together and making it click and being efficient during a busy time.
What is the biggest challenge in a night's work?
Being prepared for whenever the rush comes because sometimes it comes unexpectedly. I want to be able to serve the customers as best as possible.
Question from our facebook fan, Robin Lauer: How did you get interested in making pizzas and wanting your own pizza shop?
I made a lot of pizza as a young boy at home. Chef boyardee (he jokes). I also liked to try different pizzas in restaurants. The original Angie's in Barberton was my favorite. There were a whole bunch of reasons I got interested in owning a pizza shop. I liked the thought of being in business for myself and the restaurant business intrigued me. Original Angie's pizza was a big influence. It was a pizza that was easy to enjoy on a frequent basis and I wanted to be able to create a pizza like that.
Question from our facebook fan, Larry Koons: What is the driving force behind that zeal for cleanliness that is so obvious and appreciated?
Dear, Larry. You answered your own question. It's in the appreciation a customer has in seeing where there pizza is made.
If you could pass along a slice of wisdom to your customers, in any area of life, what would you give them?
My answer is to myself as well as to anyone else. It's let go and let God. I know it's not always easy.
Anything else you want to say?
I think I have the best customers in the world and there are many more potential customers out there that I would like to serve and influence their taste in pizza. Oh, one more addition to that thought. In good times and bad times, good pizza can be a highlight of an evening.
Interviewed by fellow business operator, AnnaLeigh
Favorite Movie: Ben Hur
Favorite Music: Gospel, Andre Crouch and the Desciples. Secular, Bee Gees, Beach Boys and Neil Diamond are some
Next Best Thing to a Great Pizza: a great char-grilled hamburger!
What do you like to do when you're not working?
I don't know. I've never been not working. (Laughs) I like to water-ski, I like to workout, I like to bike, I like to wash my car. I like visiting friends and to be free during the day and not sitting behind a desk. I like the freedom of my job.
What is your favorite thing about owning a pizza shop?
I don't think there is one favorite thing. There is a bunch of stuff; well, okay, employees all working together and making it click and being efficient during a busy time.
What is the biggest challenge in a night's work?
Being prepared for whenever the rush comes because sometimes it comes unexpectedly. I want to be able to serve the customers as best as possible.
Question from our facebook fan, Robin Lauer: How did you get interested in making pizzas and wanting your own pizza shop?
I made a lot of pizza as a young boy at home. Chef boyardee (he jokes). I also liked to try different pizzas in restaurants. The original Angie's in Barberton was my favorite. There were a whole bunch of reasons I got interested in owning a pizza shop. I liked the thought of being in business for myself and the restaurant business intrigued me. Original Angie's pizza was a big influence. It was a pizza that was easy to enjoy on a frequent basis and I wanted to be able to create a pizza like that.
Question from our facebook fan, Larry Koons: What is the driving force behind that zeal for cleanliness that is so obvious and appreciated?
Dear, Larry. You answered your own question. It's in the appreciation a customer has in seeing where there pizza is made.
If you could pass along a slice of wisdom to your customers, in any area of life, what would you give them?
My answer is to myself as well as to anyone else. It's let go and let God. I know it's not always easy.
Anything else you want to say?
I think I have the best customers in the world and there are many more potential customers out there that I would like to serve and influence their taste in pizza. Oh, one more addition to that thought. In good times and bad times, good pizza can be a highlight of an evening.
Interviewed by fellow business operator, AnnaLeigh
Interview with co-owner, Joanne Brand

Best Known for: her love of reading and her amazing memory.
Favorite Car Ever Owned: Red Plymouth Volare
Favorite Snack: Fritos!
Favorite Book of the Bible: Romans
Favorite TV Show: NCIS
Favorite Author: Karen White
Favorite Pizza Toppings: Pepperoni and Mushroom
What's the best part about owning and operating a pizza shop?
I like having the daytime free. I don't like the crowds or having to fight them when out in about in a short evening. I've also liked having the opportunity to have met a lot of people and get to know a lot of people. I wouldn't have had that ability in a 9-5 job.
Besides pizza is there anything you like to cook or bake?
Haha! No! I may like to cut out recipes that sound good, but I don't really like to cook or bake. Don does most of that!
When you can get away from the pizza shop, you like to travel, both near and far. Has there been a favorite place or sight?
Well, most of my trips have incorporated helping family and seeing the sights or visiting a historical place happens along the route. Going to the beach is always fun. One place I wouldn't hesitate to go back to is the Outer Banks--Kill Devil Hills. It's where the Wright Brothers first flew. There's some history and fun there. I like that. Savannah is beautiful, too. Atlantic Beach. The Outer Banks, however, I would like to go back to with time and the ability to explore more.
What other hobbies do you like to entertain outside of making pizza?
Water-skiing of course! I like to research family history. I like to garden flowers. I really enjoy bicycling.
Is there anything in the history of Don Brand's Pizza that we don't already know?
Well, some people may not know that the pizza shop came before I did. Don opened the shop, I came to work here a year later and he married me down the road. What was he used to say? (she laughs). He needed a boat driver!
In 40 years of business, are the any big memories that stand out?
There are lots and lots of memories in 40 years. There aren't any bigger than others. Most of my memories are of watching our employees grow up here, work their way through school and move on to get married, have kids, sustain great jobs. We have always had great people work for us and there were lots of different personalities. I remember one girl was a math wiz and one Super Bowl Sunday she calculated how many pizzas we were making for every minute. It was fun seeing our employees be into this job. There was the time AnnaLeigh told her friends "I get to work Saturday," not "I have to work." That's pretty good. There were times throughout the years we had high school employees, one year 3 Seniors, and they all wanted to leave for Friday night football as soon as possible. They'd work hard to get us through Friday night supper, head into the bathroom to change clothes and run out the door. It's always been great to watch our employees work and still have fun.
Interviewed by AnnaLeigh Oakes
Favorite Car Ever Owned: Red Plymouth Volare
Favorite Snack: Fritos!
Favorite Book of the Bible: Romans
Favorite TV Show: NCIS
Favorite Author: Karen White
Favorite Pizza Toppings: Pepperoni and Mushroom
What's the best part about owning and operating a pizza shop?
I like having the daytime free. I don't like the crowds or having to fight them when out in about in a short evening. I've also liked having the opportunity to have met a lot of people and get to know a lot of people. I wouldn't have had that ability in a 9-5 job.
Besides pizza is there anything you like to cook or bake?
Haha! No! I may like to cut out recipes that sound good, but I don't really like to cook or bake. Don does most of that!
When you can get away from the pizza shop, you like to travel, both near and far. Has there been a favorite place or sight?
Well, most of my trips have incorporated helping family and seeing the sights or visiting a historical place happens along the route. Going to the beach is always fun. One place I wouldn't hesitate to go back to is the Outer Banks--Kill Devil Hills. It's where the Wright Brothers first flew. There's some history and fun there. I like that. Savannah is beautiful, too. Atlantic Beach. The Outer Banks, however, I would like to go back to with time and the ability to explore more.
What other hobbies do you like to entertain outside of making pizza?
Water-skiing of course! I like to research family history. I like to garden flowers. I really enjoy bicycling.
Is there anything in the history of Don Brand's Pizza that we don't already know?
Well, some people may not know that the pizza shop came before I did. Don opened the shop, I came to work here a year later and he married me down the road. What was he used to say? (she laughs). He needed a boat driver!
In 40 years of business, are the any big memories that stand out?
There are lots and lots of memories in 40 years. There aren't any bigger than others. Most of my memories are of watching our employees grow up here, work their way through school and move on to get married, have kids, sustain great jobs. We have always had great people work for us and there were lots of different personalities. I remember one girl was a math wiz and one Super Bowl Sunday she calculated how many pizzas we were making for every minute. It was fun seeing our employees be into this job. There was the time AnnaLeigh told her friends "I get to work Saturday," not "I have to work." That's pretty good. There were times throughout the years we had high school employees, one year 3 Seniors, and they all wanted to leave for Friday night football as soon as possible. They'd work hard to get us through Friday night supper, head into the bathroom to change clothes and run out the door. It's always been great to watch our employees work and still have fun.
Interviewed by AnnaLeigh Oakes