It was founded in 1954 by Donald "Buddy" LaRosa,[1] along with partners Richard "Muzzie" Minella, Mike Soldano and Frank "Head" Serraino.

[1] Success at the festival led LaRosa to cash in a life insurance policy and rent his first restaurant building and pizza oven on Boudinot Avenue in the Westwood area of Cincinnati.

[1] LaRosa's has a 25 percent share of the local pizza market[4] and boasts one of the highest sales volumes per pizzeria in the nation.

[6] Following that, additional franchises were opened in Greater Cincinnati communities such as Clifton, Hyde Park, and White Oak.

[16] The Louisville location closed on September 30, 2024, and LaRosa's states this closure happened because of sales at the location that “did not consistently meet expectations.”[17] LaRosa's signature pizza is a thin crust variety made with a distinctive thick, sweet sauce (a family recipe created by the founder's Aunt Dena)[1] and topped with provolone cheese.