Blackjack Pizza is a Colorado-based pizza delivery chain founded in 1983 by a former Domino's Pizza employee, Vince Schmuhl, because Domino's Pizza was the only major pizza delivery company in the Rocky Mountain region and he thought customers would appreciate an alternative. The pizza chain is the largest in Colorado with 800 employees, some of whom work part-time. On January 1, 2013, Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands.
Video Blackjack Pizza
History
The first Blackjack Pizza store opened on June 29, 1983 in Federal Heights with a second store opening in Greeley by February 1984. By 1986, Blackjack grew to six corporate stores and one franchisee.
In 1988, Blackjack became a franchisor with the sale of several corporate stores to franchisees. Today, Blackjack Pizza operates 45 stores in five states. Blackjack's tagline is "Better Pizza, Better Price."
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the high school seniors who committed the 1999 Columbine High School massacre worked part-time for $5.15 an hour at the Blackjack Pizza store in Littleton, Colorado, and Harris eventually became shift manager. At this pizza parlor, the two teens made important acquaintances who were inadvertently connected to the attack at Columbine High School. The two teens were able to meet Mark Manes, the man who sold them the TEC-9 that they used in the attack, through the connection of Philip Duran, a fellow employee at the Blackjack Pizza store where they worked.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith appeared frequently in Blackjack commercials until October 2008 when Blackjack rolled out a new ad campaign featuring the cast of Impulse Theater. Smith's slogan for Blackjack Pizza ads was "Stick with the home team."
Maps Blackjack Pizza
Philanthropy
Blackjack Pizza donated money to a number of organizations. In 2005, Blackjack donated $8,842.40 to the Bonfils Blood Center Foundation, which was selected by Blackjack Pizza to be the winner of the "80 Cent Pizza Promotion". The pizzeria also sponsored a Future Farmers of America program in Fort Morgan, Colorado. In 2006, the franchise offered a deal to customers that every time they ordered the "Children's Hospital Special", the franchise would give a dollar to the Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.
Acquisitions
On January 1, 2013, Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands, a Michigan-based company.
See also
- List of food companies
- List of pizza chains of the United States
References
External links
- Blackjack Pizza website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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