Zingerman's and Domino's: What is the origin of these company names?
Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig originally planned to name their Ann Arbor deli Greenberg's Delicatessen.
File photo
Turns out, it’s the result of a last minute switch from the restaurant’s original name: Greenberg’s Delicatessen.
The pair — who opened Zingerman’s Deli on Detroit Street in 1982 — wanted to name their business Greenberg’s after Hannah Greenberg, a regular customer at the fish market Saginaw owned, an MLive report says.
But Saginaw and Weinzweig had to change the deli’s name a few days before opening after a Farmington Hills business owner named Greenberg said they couldn’t use his name.
Domino's was founded in Ypsilanti in 1960.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
“We came up with Zingerman’s; it sounded zingy and fun,” Saginaw told MLive.
Ann Arbor Township-based Domino’s Pizza was founded in 1960 when Tom Monaghan and his brother, James, bought Domi-Nick’s pizzeria in Ypsilanti for $500. When Dominick wanted the name back, an employee came up with Domino’s.
The company’s three-dot domino logo represents the company’s first three stores.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
jns131
Tue, Apr 30, 2013 : 5:50 p.m.
I wonder if the name Greenberg was copyrighted which would lead them to not being able to use this name. I do know that Dominoes Sugar and Dominoes Pizza had a major court over this name. The pizza won because it would mess people up thinking that they were eating sugar laced pizza. Which I wonder sometimes because I hate Dominoes pizza. We don't do Zingermans because of price. Besides we have a great mom and pop shop in Ypsi that makes better sandwiches then Zingermans.
arborani
Tue, Apr 30, 2013 : 2:04 p.m.
Okay - but how did Paul Saginaw come by his "city" name, which I believe was originally from Native American sources?
Honest Abe
Mon, Apr 29, 2013 : 9:05 p.m.
Which is it A2.Com? Is it 'Geenberg" or "Greenberg". This why most readers think A2.Com is amateur at best.
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Apr 29, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.
Greenberg. Thanks.
Linda Peck
Mon, Apr 29, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
I was hoping to get the history of this deli before it was Zingerman's, because I remember getting fabulous food from there in 1961. It was a wonderful deli! I can still remember the bagels and lox on Sunday mornings from there.
Kellie Woodhouse
Mon, Apr 29, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
Hmm, wonder if that Farmington Hills business owner regrets his decision. The randomness of these decisions is pretty interesting and a little surprising.