OUR STORY
In 1992, brothers Aro and Allen Agakhanyan opened their first pizzeria in Los Angeles while still attending high school. From the beginning, they were driven by a vision to create something different from traditional national pizza chains, a true pizzeria experience with a distinctive Southern California feel.
They focused on quality, creativity, and scale. While recreating the essence of a traditional pizzeria, they introduced larger pizza sizes to meet the growing appetites of their guests. What began with a 28-inch pizza quickly evolved into the Big Papa, a 36-inch pizza designed to serve larger groups. Still, they pushed further. The brothers introduced the Giant Sicilian, a 54” x 54” pizza, now recognized as the largest deliverable pizza in the world and officially recorded in the Guinness World Records.
As the brand evolved, so did the menu. Big Mama’s & Papa’s expanded beyond pizza, introducing signature items such as the Egg Gondola, Big Mama’s Slice, pastas, fresh salads, and a variety of appetizers, all designed to deliver both quality and variety.
From a 500-square-foot location, BMPP has grown into a full-service pizzeria concept, with a Pronto Model (900-1200 sq ft) and a Traditional Model, also called Full-Size, with 1500-2300 sq ft. Traditional locations are designed to offer dine-in, carryout, and delivery, with larger footprints that accommodate families, groups, and community gatherings , reinforcing the idea that pizzerias are once again places where people come together.
Innovation has remained central to the brand. BMPP’s delivery vehicles, including compact cars equipped with specialized insulated roof systems , are designed specifically to transport the Giant Sicilian, reflecting both operational creativity and a commitment to quality delivery. Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizzeria has also become part of popular culture, notably reaching a global audience during the 2014 Academy Awards, when host Ellen DeGeneres served BMPP pizza to Hollywood’s most recognized names, including Harrison Ford, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Today, the brand continues to grow beyond its Southern California roots with the expansion of BMPP Canada, bringing the same standards, innovation, and passion for great pizza to new communities across the country. From its beginnings to today, BMPP remains committed to its founding idea:
To create a true pizzeria experience where quality matters, innovation leads, and people come together around great food.
