The Papa John's restaurant franchise was founded in 1983 when "Papa" John Schnatter knocked out a broom closet in the back of his father's tavern, Mick's Lounge, in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He then sold his 1971 Z28 Camaro to purchase $1,600 worth of used pizza equipment and began selling pizzas to the tavern's customers out of the converted closet. (In 2009, Schnatter got back the Camaro through contacting the family that he sold the car to in 1983.) His pizzas proved so popular that one year later he was able to move into an adjoining space. Papa John's is now the third largest take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain in the United States.