In 1991, a young immigrant came to the United States with very little in his pocket and even less experience of life in a new country. His first job was delivering pizzas for $4.25 an hour. More than three decades later, he owns over 270 Papa John’s restaurants across the country and leads a company that continues to grow. His story is a reminder that with persistence, hard work, and a clear vision, you can build something much bigger than you ever imagined.
Who is the entrepreneur behind 270 Papa John’s?
The man behind this success story is Nadeem Bajwa, a 58-year-old entrepreneur who immigrated from Pakistan. Today, he is the CEO of Bajco Group, a company he co-founded with his brothers. His business portfolio has expanded far beyond pizza. It now covers technology, construction, accounting, and more, but his foundation was built one pizza delivery at a time.
Bajwa’s path was not easy. “Coming to the U.S., actually, that was my first flight [ever.] I’d never flown before,” he said. “Just getting into the plane, it was a full flight coming here by myself, [there was] a lot of anxiety … but I was determined to make it.”
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How did his journey begin in the United States?
When Bajwa first arrived, he was in his early twenties and living in Indiana. Like many new immigrants, he faced culture shock, homesickness, and language barriers. To pay for college, he worked several jobs at once:
- Washing dishes during breakfast shifts
- Delivering pizzas in the afternoon
- Working late nights at Taco Bell
It was his delivery job at Papa John’s that made the biggest impact. The flexible hours and steady tips gave him some stability, but more importantly, he started to enjoy the restaurant business.
When did he decide to become a franchise owner?
By the time Bajwa graduated from university in 1996, he had already moved up from delivery driver to area manager at Papa John’s. He considered going into the corporate world but realized he was already earning more at Papa John’s than many entry-level jobs could offer.
So, instead of following the traditional path, he chose to stay in the pizza business. In 2002, with the help of family support and bank loans, he opened his first Papa John’s franchise in East Liverpool, Ohio.
He said the first store cost about $150,000 to build. “I bought used equipment for very low price, and at that time, I built the store for half [of] what I would have [paid], because I did a lot of [the labor] myself.”
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What challenges did he face in building his business?
Bajwa’s growth was not without setbacks. He admits to making these mistakes when he started:
- He over-marketed his first store, causing chaos when too many customers showed up and staff walked out.
- He expanded too quickly after opening his second and third locations, which left him short on trained staff.
- The 2008 economic downturn tested his ability to manage and adapt.
Despite all these challenges, Bajwab focused on his goals. He said those early failures taught him valuable lessons about patience, preparation, and humility.
“You have to be humble, because the day you start thinking you got it all, I believe your downfall will start,” he explained.
How big is his empire today?
Today, Bajwa owns more than 270 Papa John’s locations across the United States. The company has signed an agreement to open 50 more restaurants by 2028, putting him on track toward his goal of reaching 500 locations.
Alongside his pizza empire, he has built:
- A call center to support operations
- A construction arm to build and remodel stores
- An offshore accounting team
- A technology division serving multiple clients
He said, “I never dreamt of this growth. [I just focused on] doing my best … and learning from my mistakes … and the rest just came.”
