In 1972, Antonio Martella opened the first Captain Tonys Pizza & Pasta Emporium in the fine state of New York. The entire family pitched in and helped, including his young son Michael. Grown up and away at college, Michael found that old adage to be true that you just cant beat home cooking, dads pizza that is. In all of his travels at that time, sampling a variety of pizzas in several states across the country, he was not able to find a pizza that rivaled his own fathers. His cousin (also named Michael) also agreed and the family decided to share this great pizza with the world by expanding into a franchise in 1985.