Vancouver Pizza, Best Places For Pizza in Vancouver

by Forum Posters

Pizza In Vancouver

Every so often I will dig through the running list of topics on our forum and come across a rare find. In this particular day I found a pizza vs pizza thread, you know the kind. One name I noticed came up time and time again was "Me-n-Ed's Pizza Parlors" loving called "Me & Ed's". Well you might want to know something about what others think before you eat. We all know the major Pizza places like pizza hut, dominos and Panago but if you want good pizza that stands out then from everything I have read Me & Ed's is the way to go. Here are just a few comments about Me & Ed's that have been posted in our forum:

"BEST. Thin cracker like crust and honest toppings. Sooooooo good."

"Awesome!! Me and Eds rules the pizza world."

"I absolutely love their pizza!!!!"

"I love Me-n-Ed's thin crust pizzas too!, also their hot chicken wings! They are a bit pricey but soo worth it!"

"all time fave Lower Mainland pizza is Me and Ed's"

Here is their history taken from there site http://www.me-n-eds.ca

Me-n-Ed's History

Me-n-Ed's Pizza Parlors have traveled down a long and twisty road from their inception in the late 1950's in California to their current corporate structure as two distinct Franchise groups – one in California operating under the banner of Milano Restaurants International, and one in Canada operating under Me-n-Ed's Enterprises, Canada, Ltd.

The original Me-n-Ed's was opened in the Sacramento area in 1958 – and was an offshoot of Shakey's Pizza Parlors. Shakey Johnson and his brother, Russ, were the principles in Shakey's, but Russ left to open his own pizza chain, taking on a partner, Ed Sanlon. Hence the name "Me" (Russ) and "Ed"!

Russ and Ed were selling franchises throughout California, as well as opening and operating their own stores in and around the San Francisco Bay area. In Fresno, California, Ben and Marcella Watters, partnering with Thomas Ferdinandi and Jimmy Demera began opening Me-n-Ed's Pizza Parlors throughout the San Joaquin Valley, as well as throughout Orange County.

Meanwhile, in the mid 1960's, Russ and Ed, who still controlled the Me-n-Ed's franchise, hired George Farrier, from Carmel, California, as their general manager. George's roll was to assist in the running of the San Francisco Bay area stores, as well as help manage the franchise company. George eventually bought the Franchise company from Russ and Ed, acquiring the rights to the name Me-n-Ed's.

In 1967 Ben and Marcella Watters decided to expand into Canada. The Watters' nephew, Doug Price, from North Battleford, Saskatchewan, had moved to California after high school, and worked in their restaurants from 1965 to 1967, but had since returned to Canada. Ben and Marcella offered Doug a partnership interest in the new venture, and in June, 1969, at the age of 21, Doug Price opened Me-n-Ed's, Burnaby. In February, 1975, Doug opened a second Me-n-Ed's in Coquitlam.

In the early 90's, in order to pave the way for any further expansion in Canada, Doug and George joined forces to create Me-n-Ed's Enterprises, Canada, Ltd.

In the mid 90's, George Farrier sold the American rights to Me-n-Ed's to Tom and Jim in Fresno, who were by far and wide the driving force behind Me-n-Ed's in the US. Tom Ferdinandi's sons, John and Thomas, Jr., eventually took over the business, and have incorporated Me-n-Ed's under the banner of Milano Restaurants International, which operates more than 60 Me-n-Ed's Pizza Parlors in the US.

Doug acquired the exclusive Canadian rights to Me-n-Ed's from George in the mid 90's, and began taking on joint venture partners for the operational side of Me-n-Ed's. Melody Hewitt (nee Bratberg) who started working at Me-n-Ed's in the mid 80's while attending SFU, became a joint venture partner in 1992. Cris Florian, who was Me-n-Ed's in house accountant, and her husband, Richard, became joint venture partners in 1996, and opened the Port Coquitlam location that year.

In 2003, Doug sold his remaining interest in Me-n-Ed's Pizza Parlors to his joint venture partners. Melody and Nathan own and operate Burnaby. Cris and Richard own and operate Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Doug continues as owner and president of Me-n-Ed's Enterprises, Canada, Ltd., the franchise company.

Me-n-Ed's continues to thrive as it approaches it's 40th anniversary in Canada. A new franchise has opened in Langley, owned by Mark Lauener, Gary Steinman and Tom Devlin; three Burnaby boys who grew up on Me-n-Ed's pizza. A fifth location will be opening in Abbotsford in 2008.

Although there have been many physical updates to the restaurants, and additions to the menu, Me-n-Ed's has remained true to their unique dough recipe and highest quality products, making Me-n-Ed's Pizza truly "Pizza you Remember"!

Locations

Burnaby
Kingsway at Edmonds
604.521-8881

Coquitlam
1121 Austin Avenue
604.931.2468

Port Coquitlam
2233 McAllister Avenue
604.942.1200

Langley
20270 Fraser Hwy
604-534-3400

Coming soon...

Abbotsford
2010 Sumas Way
604-859-3616

* Call for currect pizza specials

I also found that Firewood Oven was also mentioned every so often. I hope you get a chance to stop by and give your feedback of one of Vancouver Best Pizza Places, enjoy!