How did Thelma Beall, matriarch of the 118-unit Ledo Pizza chain, headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, celebrate her 100th birthday? “We had a big party for her on Saturday,” CEO Jamie Beall told CBS News Baltimore today, “and I think she might have gone gambling on her actual birthday.”
Robert Beall, Thelma’s husband, opened the first Ledo Restaurant in Adelphi, Maryland, in 1955 with his partner, Tommy Marcos. Made out of necessity in rectangular pans—round pans were hard to come by in those days—the pies became known as the Maryland style, featuring a thin, flaky crust, a sweet sauce and salty smoked provolone.
Robert Beall, informally called Bob, had to teach himself how to make pizza, “so there was a lot of trial and error,” Jamie told PMQ when the brand was inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame a few years ago. “We had square pizza instead of round, provolone versus mozzarella, and a very thick-cut pepperoni. Our style came from not knowing any better.”
Thelma has remained a steadfast inspiration for the Beall family as the brand has expanded across the eastern U.S., with locations today in states that include New York, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. In her day, though, she saw sports legends like Mickey Mantle, Joe Namath, Yogi Berra and Johnny Unitas hanging out at Ledo Pizzeria, which also drew students from the University of Maryland.
Jamie told CBS News Baltimore that Thelma “means a ton to the family, obviously, teaching us family values and integrity and ethics…but to the brand, her core influence on family and community and persevering through the brand [made us] who we are today. I mean, our commitment to community and family is really [due to] her presence.”
For her part, Thelma issued a statement reflecting a similar sentiment. “Ledo Pizza has always been about family, togetherness and community,” she said. “I’ve been lucky to witness its growth and how our little restaurant has become a cherished part of so many lives over the years.”
To celebrate Thelma’s 100th birthday, Ledo Pizza is offering fountain drinks and iced tea for $1 (that is, 100 cents) throughout the week of October 20.
So what’s the secret to her longevity? “I couldn’t really tell you,” Jamie admitted. “I think it’s really her personality and her positive [attitude] that keeps her young.”
And she continues to make an impact on the family, he added. “She’s influenced three generations of us running the business, and the fourth generation, she’s working on them now.”
Matriarch of Ledo’s Pizza Turned 100 This Week and Still Knows How to Have Fun
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