Donatos Pizza

Every Piece Is Important

(740) 389-3009 | donatos.com

1181 Mt. Vernon Ave Marion, OH

The word Donatos means “to give a good thing” and that phrase has a special meaning for the Rose family. In the early 80s, Charlene (Char) Rose was managing the restaurant at the Westerville Athletic Club. Jim Grote was a member at the club and frequent patron of the restaurant. Char’s warm service and strong work ethic caught Jim’s eye and he recruited Char to leave her current position to join him in the catering division for his local restaurant, Donatos Pizza.

Growing up watching her dad, Caitlin now works alongside her father in the family business.

In the late 80s, Jim was looking for hard-working, family-oriented people to bring Donatos to other communities. Char and her husband, Bill Stetler, were intrigued by the opportunity to invest in their own franchise and bring Donatos Pizza to Marion. After careful consideration, they approached their son, Chris, to come on board as the Operating Partner and make it a true family affair. At the time, Chris was recently married with a 9-5 career, 401k, and time to enjoy hobbies and leisure activities. Joining the family business would mean giving that up for long hours. It wasn’t an easy decision for Chris and his wife, Christina, but taking the leap of faith has been a decision they’ve never come to regret.

Marion Donatos opened it’s doors on November 6th, 1991, and is the oldest Donatos Franchise.

On November 6th, 1991 after Bill and his fellow firefighters tackled the demolition and remodel, the former Sisters Chicken in Marion officially opened as Donatos Pizza. Chris remembers the humble beginnings, “We didn’t know what to expect, but the Marion community embraced us with open arms, allowing us to see growth and success from day one.”

As the business grew, so did the Rose family. Chris and Christina welcomed two daughters, Dani and Caitlin, in the years to come. Things weren’t always easy as staffing and supply shortages would often lead Chris to work crazy hours. He missed a lot of “firsts” in the girls’ lives, but he knew putting in the work then would allow him to do more for his family in the future. Dani and Caitlin grew up in the pizza shop, sitting in their car seats on the counter, celebrating birthdays at the restaurant, and eventually working their first jobs as teens. The girls experienced every aspect of the family business and while Dani has pursued other adventures, Caitilin joined the family business after college. She stepped in as the Manager of Business Operations and helps out wherever she’s needed. With the success of the Marion location, the Rose/Stetler family has expanded their franchise with locations to serve the Mansfield, Wooster, and Mount Vernon communities. Chris credits his amazing staff for the continued growth throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Rose daughters grew up around Donatos, having celebrated birthdays and other milestones at the store.

“ Our story is a story about family. Over the years, we’ve seen our family grow, both in the Rose household and with our business. Our Donatos team and the Marion Community are like extended family, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without their hard work and loyalty. ”

Chris Rose

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Marion location, the Rose/Stetler family has completely remodeled the store inside and out. With a shiny facelift, the dedication to quality food and excellent service remains the same. Donatos of Marion is located at 1181 Mt. Vernon Ave in Marion. Place an order online at donatos.com or by calling 740-389-3009.