Green Lantern Pizza

Green Lantern Pizza is a regional American pizza restaurant brand based in Madison Heights, Michigan, serving the greater Metro Detroit area. Its origins trace to 1946, when the site operated as the Green Lantern Tavern, a single-location bar and eatery in an old farmhouse marked by a distinctive green lantern left over from the Prohibition era. In 1955, owners Thomas and Irene Vettraino converted the tavern into Green Lantern Pizza, and the Original Round pie quickly became the establishment's signature item. The brand has since grown into a multi-unit chain with more than 15 locations across Metro Detroit, including Berkley, Bloomfield Hills, Brighton, Clinton Township, Livonia, Macomb, Madison Heights, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Shelby Township, Southfield, Troy, Walled Lake, Warren, Waterford Township and St. Clair Shores. The menu centers on two signature pizza styles: the Original Round, marketed as the 'Best in Town,' and a thick, cheesy Detroit-style square pizza. Supporting items include salads, subs, wings, sandwiches, appetizers and sides. Green Lantern emphasizes scratch preparation, stating that it hand-cuts ingredients, shreds its own cheese and makes fresh dough and sauce every morning. The company positions itself as the 'King of Pepperoni' and promotes a laid-back, old-school diner atmosphere alongside dine-in, carryout and delivery service. Ownership has remained within the founding family across generations. By 1984, the Vettrainos were ready to retire and passed the business to their daughter, marking the beginning of a period of expansion. The brand operates a mobile app for ordering, deals and rewards, and maintains a network of dine-in restaurants throughout its home region. Green Lantern Pizza is a privately held, family-rooted regional chain rather than a national franchise, and its identity is closely tied to Detroit-style pizza culture and its long-standing neighborhood presence in Madison Heights.

Green Lantern Pizza's history begins in 1946, when the site in Madison Heights, Michigan, operated as the Green Lantern Tavern. The original owners, Thomas and Irene Vettraino, ran the business out of an old farmhouse whose front was illuminated by a distinctive green lantern. That lantern was a holdover from the Prohibition era, when a green lantern signaled that an establishment was permitted to sell alcohol. In the small hometown setting, the tavern became an instant hit, and its Original Round pies quickly emerged as the most popular menu item. Patrons made a tradition of visiting Green Lantern for a drink and pizza. By 1955, the tavern had evolved into Green Lantern Pizza, with the Vettrainos purchasing the old farmhouse and formally establishing the pizza brand. The Original Round remained the specialty, while the company also developed a thick, cheesy Detroit-style square pizza. From the beginning, the brand emphasized craft pizza made with fresh dough and sauce, hand-shredded cheese and thick-cut toppings. By 1984, the Vettrainos were ready to retire and handed Green Lantern Pizza to their daughter, marking the start of a new chapter of family stewardship and growth. Over the following decades, the brand expanded from its iconic Madison Heights location into a regional chain with more than 15 locations across greater Detroit. Today the footprint includes Berkley, Bloomfield Hills, Brighton, Clinton Township (Hayes Rd and 15 Mile Rd), Livonia, Macomb, Madison Heights, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Shelby Township, Southfield, Troy, Walled Lake, Warren, Waterford Township and St. Clair Shores. The company continues to describe itself as a Metro Detroit legend, maintaining its commitment to quality ingredients, bold flavor and laid-back, old-school diner vibes. It operates dine-in restaurants alongside carryout and delivery, and offers a mobile app for ordering, exclusive deals and rewards. Its identity remains tied to its neighborhood roots and to Detroit-style pizza culture.

• 1984

  The Vettrainos retire and pass Green Lantern Pizza to their daughter, beginning a period of family-led growth.

• 1955

  Thomas and Irene Vettraino establish Green Lantern Pizza, evolving the tavern into a pizza brand.

• 1946

  Green Lantern Tavern opens in Madison Heights, Michigan, in an old farmhouse marked by a Prohibition-era green lantern.

• Green Lantern Pizza expands to more than 15 locations across greater Metro Detroit.

Regional, family-rooted Detroit-style pizza chain positioning itself as the 'King of Pepperoni' with scratch-made ingredients and old-school diner vibes.

• Original Round pizza

  The brand's famous round pizza, marketed as 'Best in Town'.

• Detroit-style square pizza

  Thick, cheesy deep-dish square pizza made with fresh dough, sauce and hand-shredded cheese.

• Pepperoni pizza

  A signature offering tied to the brand's 'King of Pepperoni' identity.

• Salads, subs, wings, sandwiches, appetizers and sides

  Supporting menu categories beyond pizza.

• 2022.01.21

  Reported2022.01.21

  GLP establishes $1.1 billion Vietnam logistics fund[4]GLP 成立 11 亿美元越南物流基金macaubusiness.com

  GLP announced the establishment of GLP Vietnam Development Partners I, a logistics development fund with an investment capacity of $1.1 billion and commitments from investors across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

• Unconfirmed

  GLP partners with China Life and China Co-Op Group to establish logistics fund[5]GLP partners with China Life and China Co-Op Group to establish logistics fundcaixinglobal.com

  GLP Pte. Ltd. partnered with China Life and China Co-Op Group to set up the GLP Co-Op Development Fund, with an initial size of nearly 3 billion yuan and a target to raise up to 20 billion yuan in capital commitments.

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2021.10.04

  GLP acquires 10 logistics properties in Northern Italy[6]GLP收购意大利北部10处物流物业realassets.ipe.com

  GLP acquired 10 logistics real estate assets in Northern Italy for an undisclosed sum.

• 2021.05

  Reported2021.05.17

  GLP raises US$850 million through green perpetual securities offering[7]GLP通过绿色永续证券发行筹集8.5亿美元straitstimes.com

  GLP sold and priced an US$850 million offering of green subordinated perpetual securities, upsized from an initial US$500 million target. The proceeds are intended to refinance eligible green projects under GLP's green finance framework.

• 2020.10.15

  Reported2020.10.16

  GLP and SEA Logistic Partners announce Vietnam joint venture[8]GLP 与 SEA Logistic Partners 宣布在越南成立合资企业vir.com.vn

  SEA Logistic Partners (SLP) and GLP announced a joint venture to invest in and develop modern logistics real estate in Vietnam. The venture will initially focus on Greater Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and nearby provinces.

Read more

1. 1Green Lantern Pizza | Pizza Restaurant in Metro Detroitgreenlanternpizza.com
2. 2Our History - Green Lantern Pizzagreenlanternpizza.com
3. 3Green Lanternwikidata.org
4. 4GLP 成立 11 亿美元越南物流基金macaubusiness.com
5. 5GLP partners with China Life and China Co-Op Group to establish logistics fundcaixinglobal.com
6. 6GLP收购意大利北部10处物流物业realassets.ipe.com
7. 7GLP通过绿色永续证券发行筹集8.5亿美元straitstimes.com
8. 8GLP 与 SEA Logistic Partners 宣布在越南成立合资企业vir.com.vn