(WHAS11) - After 25 years, papa's still in the house.
"It doesn't seem like 25 years," said John Schnatter of Papa John's fame.
And the house that papa built is a pizza palace in Anchorage.
The corporate house is quite a contrast to the broom closet where it all began in the back of a bar co-owned by his dad.
"You're dealing with millions and come from a bar that's broke, no real school for that," he said.
Schnatter grew up in a hard working family, the eldest of three children.
His papaw taught him to save, his father to take risks not shortcuts.
"Don't negotiate the quality of your product," he said, including everything from better ingredients to key ingredients in life, his family.
His wife's portrait hangs above his desk with pictures of their three children and family members are everywhere. But he knows something is missing.
Schnatter's own papa passing away before Papa John's took off.
Now there's a corporate jet and mingling with famous faces both red and blue.
"I support both U of L and UK, but he's working on me."
Supporting both, no surprise but he did surprise me with this.
"I make the bed and do all the dishes."
John Schnatter has always been a hands-on kind of guy. It began with his hands in the dough, so does he still have the magic touch?
He's made some 10,000 pizzas but the one he made with WHAS11 was not perfect.
Then WHAS11's Rachel Platt took her turn and the expectation for each pizza was more of a science than an art.
Each pizza to look and taste alike whether made in Louisville or China with Schnatter's attention to detail being legendary.
"I am very anal retentive," said Schnatter.
After all, this is the guy who just spent $6 million on white boxes to ensure the best taste for his pizza and is willing to pay for a slice of his past.
"I bought the car when I was 16," said Schatter as he showed WHAS11 a replica of the prized Z-28 he sold to start his business. These students found out how much he'll pay to get it back.
"I want the car back and will pay $250,000."
It's a symbol of his sacrifice.
There are also symbols of his success and his willingness to share it.
He just built a community walking trail in Anchorage.
He's funded countless other projects like the gorilla forest and splash park at the zoo and gave millions to the stadium that bears his name at U of L.
What do you want people to think of when you say John Schnatter?
Quality, do things right and build things that last.
After 25 years, papa's still in the house.
His brand appears to be expanding not just better pizza but better community.
