Pioneer. Visionary. Richard T. Swisher, owner and president of L.A. Pizza, Inc., ventured into uncharted territory when he decided to open the first Domino’s Pizza franchise in Los Angeles. Domino’s Pizza was a corporation in its infancy and Rick saw Los Angeles as a tremendous market for pizza delivery. 

Rick began his career by delivering pizzas part time for Domino’s Pizza, while attending the University of Texas at Austin. Wanting and needing to work while attending college, Rick was hired by the local Domino’s Pizza store in Austin to deliver pizzas. There were only 100 Domino’s Pizza locations in the nation at this time. 

Upon graduating, Rick decided to stay in the pizza delivery business and was recruited to help develop and build a competing company named Pizza Express. Pizza Express opened several stores over the next couple years before Domino’s Pizza recognized their success and negotiated to purchase the company. 

During the negotiations, Domino’s Pizza awarded Rick rights to develop a large portion of Los Angeles. Domino’s Pizza, Inc. was a growing company mostly in cities and towns on the East Coast, but this was Los Angeles and Rick was chosen to provide the benchmark. 

In 1980, Rick arrived in Los Angeles and set out to open his first Domino’s Pizza location at USC. While not an instant success financially, the store grew and allowed Rick to open a second store later that year near UCLA. At this time, Domino’s Pizza had grown to approximately 300 locations worldwide. 

In 1983, Rick’s organization was financially stable allowing him to continue to expand, opening his 3rd Domino’s Pizza location in Marina del Rey. Several stores followed over the next 10 years. 

With his notable success and knowledge, Rick has assisted or developed locations in other markets across the country including Austin, TX, El Paso, TX; Carmel/Monterey, CA, Isla Vista, CA; Fort Knox, KY; Santa Cruz, CA; College Station, TX, Tillicum, WA; and Upland, CA. 

Over the years Rick has assisted numerous team members to become franchisees for Domino's Pizza. Having proven themselves in L.A. Pizza, Inc., many prior managers have been able to join Rick as a franchisee, in their own companies.

In 2003, with twelve locations and numerous awards, L.A. Pizza, Inc. is proud to boast its pioneering efforts in Los Angeles and continues to set standards of excellence in the pizza delivery industry.