Business Notes TYCOONS

Ever since 1960, when Tom Monaghan opened his first pizza outlet in Ypsilanti, Mich., the eccentric tycoon has been expanding his empire like a spinning wheel of pizza dough. But now that his Domino's chain has 5,100 stores and sales of $2.3 billion, Monaghan is suddenly ready to move on. In a letter to employees and franchise owners, the pizza king disclosed that he is looking for ways to sell Domino's.

Monaghan has been besieged by recent controversies ranging from his donations to antiabortion groups to the allegedly reckless driving of his pizza-delivery drivers. But he says that his plan to "minimize my involvement" springs from his desire to spend more time on his charitable avocations. One holding that is not for sale: the Detroit Tigers baseball team, which the fan bought six years ago.