1851

Ivann Steward knows the value of creating a place where people feel welcome. When he arrived at Janesville, Wisconsin five years ago, he didn&rsquo;t know anyone.

But now, he can call every customer who comes into his<a href="https://1851franchise.com/topperspizza/info/index.html" target="_blank"> Toppers Pizza</a> by name.

For 10 years, Steward was a tower technician at a Chicago-based electric company. He was constantly working on the road, living hotel to hotel. Eventually, he wanted a break from that life. He started going door-to-door looking for a new opportunity that would allow him to put down roots.

One fateful day, he walked into<a href="https://toppersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-janesville-toppers-pizza-is-where-everybody-knows-your-name-and-will-play-your-favorite-song-2709307" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Toppers Pizza.</a> &ldquo;In Chicago, there are the places you&rsquo;re used to&mdash;Giordano&rsquo;s, Lou Malnati&rsquo;s. This was my first time ever seeing Toppers,&rdquo; said Steward.

&ldquo;The manager handed me an application, and I&rsquo;ve been here ever since.

After working at Toppers Pizza in Chicago, Steward was asked to take his outgoing and friendly management style to the restaurant location in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he&rsquo;s now a General Manager.

&ldquo;What I&rsquo;ve grown to love is the atmosphere. It is something I came to have a passion for,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They blew me away when I first walked in&mdash;the chemistry of the management there.&rdquo;

Steward enjoyed getting know the<a href="https://1851franchise.com/topperspizza/at-toppers-pizza-people-are-as-important-as-pizza-2706331" target="_blank"> Toppers Pizza community</a> through company-wide meetups. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s one of the major things I love about it, that it feels like a family,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Everybody&rsquo;s a friend, everybody&rsquo;s a family member. Through phone calls and emails, you get close. You get the feeling like, &lsquo;We really want you here.&rsquo;&rdquo;

&ldquo;Ivann is the epitome of the Toppers Pizza spirit. He makes the world feel like a smaller place for customers, and he makes his employees excited to go to work. Why order delivery when you can enjoy free entertainment along with your delicious dinner?&rdquo; said Scott Iverson, Vice President of Marketing for Toppers Pizza.

Steward has also enjoyed watching and helping the Toppers Pizza brand<a href="https://1851franchise.com/topperspizza/while-fast-casual-pizza-concepts-falter-toppers-pizza-flourishes-2703515" target="_blank"> grow and flourish</a>. &ldquo;I came in before Toppers Pizza really made a name for themselves,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I learned a lot about starting out small, just putting our name out there, staying local. Now we have over 70 stores. To be at a point where when someone asks where I work, and I tell them they &nbsp;say, &lsquo;You work for Toppers Pizza?, I love that place!,&rsquo; and know that I&rsquo;ve played a role in that&hellip; that&rsquo;s a big impact.&rdquo;

Wasting no opportunity to get to know his Janesville neighbors, Steward has partnered with local charities to sprinkle Toppers Pizza positivity even farther. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m starting a program with some schools and the YMCA,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Getting our team members involved with outreach to let people know that we&rsquo;re here, and supporting our local community is important . It&rsquo;s a major way for us to make a lasting connection with our neighbors.&rdquo;

Steward embodies the Toppers Pizza culture through this dedication to the community. He provides people with a place to gather, catch up and dive into a delicious pizza.

Of course, said Steward, it doesn&rsquo;t hurt that the food is &ldquo;just really good.&rdquo;

&ldquo;I have had a lot of great customer experiences. That&rsquo;s what makes us unique,&rdquo; said Steward. &ldquo;All the customers who come in, we know by name, we joke around, we sit down, have storytime, eat together. I&rsquo;ve never experienced something like that. It&rsquo;s mind-blowing. Everybody comes here to share that experience. And, being a Janesville transplant, that means a lot to me.&rdquo;

When it comes to restaurants that are welcoming, the Janesville Toppers Pizza can&rsquo;t be, well, topped. &ldquo;You can come in here and request a song and we&rsquo;ll play it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We dance in the kitchen&mdash;it&rsquo;s like a show almost. Especially when I&rsquo;m working. I just love to have fun.&rdquo;

The Janesville Toppers Pizza Is Where Everybody Knows Your Name—And Will Play Your Favorite Song

1851 Franchise

The Janesville, Wisconsin restaurant General Manager embodies the community spirit of the company

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

the-janesville-toppers-pizza-is-where-everybody-knows-your-name-and-will-play-your-favorite-song

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Photo of a large group of people standing in a circle, placing hands together in center

Franchise Opportunities for Minorities: Expanding the Franchise Network

franchise-opportunities-for-minorities

Missy Maio - Gong Cha - Top Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Missy Maio — Vice President of Marketing and Global Partnerships, Gong Cha

franchise-marketing-leader-missy-maio-gong-cha

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Love for Dogs Into a Business with Dog Training Elite

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Lifelong Love for Dogs Into a Growing Business with Dog Training Elite

how-this-franchise-consultant-turned-a-lifelong-love-for-dogs-into-a-growing-business-with-dog-training-elite

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

The Janesville Toppers Pizza Is Where Everybody Knows Your Name—And Will Play Your Favorite Song

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS