Pizza Schmizza

Infobox_Company
company_name = Pizza Schmizza
foundation = Oregon
company_
company_slogan = Claim your slice!
key_people = Andre and Carla Jehan, co-founders
location = Hillsboro, Oregon
industry = Fast food restaurants
products = pizza, salads, soft drinks
homepage = [http://www.schmizza.com/ www.schmizza.com]

Pizza Schmizza is a Pacific Northwest pizza chain with thirty-one locations throughout Oregon and Washington, United States. Pizza Schmizza, primarily a selling thin crust pizza by-the-slice, is owned and operated by Salem, Oregon, based company Figaro's Pizza. [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/04/07/daily8.html Figaro's Italian Pizza acquires Pizza Schmizza.] "Portland Business Journal", April 7 2008.]

History

Pizza Schmizza opened its first location in 1993 in Hillsboro, Oregon.Goldfield, Robert. [http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2003/08/04/story7.html Pizza Schmizza ready to take on Puget Sound.] "Portland Business Journal", August 1 2003.] Founders Andre and Carla Jehan expanded the pizza chain to 26 restaurants by 2003. That year they expanded the chain into the Seattle, Washington, market with franchised owned locations.

In 2003, Pizza Schmizza received complaints from an advertising watchdog group for hiring homeless men to hold signs bearing the slogan "Pizza Schmizza paid me to hold this sign instead of asking for money". [ [http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/06/17/offbeat.pizza.ap CNN.com - Pizza company hires homeless to hold ads - Jun. 17, 2003 ] ] Owner Andre Jehan countered that this was a way to help the homeless and that the homeless found the arrangement a positive experience. [Williams, Geoff. Hot Seat: Andre Jehan. Will Work for Food. "Entrepreneur". Nov 2003, Vol. 31 Issue 11, p38.] Pizza Schmizza received a media award from the Oregon Department of Human Services for support of a program discouraging underage alcohol consumption in 2004. [ [http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2004news/2004-0113.shtml Oregon DHS: News release Jan. 13, 2004 ] ]

Aqusition by Figaro's Pizza

After CEO Doug Wetter was unable to do his day to day job with Pizza Schmizza, the company went into talks with Figaro's Pizza about selling the company. On April 11 2008, Pizza Schmizza and Figaro's Pizza completed a deal for Figaro's to acquire Pizza Schmizza. [Rogoway, Mike. [http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1207621530181530.xml&coll=7 Pizza Schmizza sells to Figaro's.] The Oregonian, April 08 2008.] Figaro's plans to keep Pizza Schmizza running under the Schmizza name, and plans to grow the company, but slowly, and keep it a northwest based restaurant.

Operations

Pizza Schmizza ostensibly serves a New York style pizza with a thin hand-tossed crust and large, foldable slices, though their use of non-traditional toppings and sauces are suggestive of California-style pizza. In addition to more conventional offerings such as cheese and pepperoni, Pizza Schmizza offers a wide range of specialty pizzas including "sweet 'n sour" (chicken with red peppers, pineapple, and sesame seeds), "Rustic Pie" (potatoes, fresh tomatoes, garlic, broccoli, and feta), and house specialty Alligator Pie (alligator sausage, red peppers, onions, tomatoes, feta, and spaghetti noodles).

Pizza is generally sold by the slice, though full pizzas can be ordered for take-out at most locations. Pizza Schmizza offers delivery service, but usually only for orders totalling over $50. Pizza Schmizza is distinguished for its unconventional advertising methods, including pizza coupons disguised as parking tickets and faux political advertisements with the slogan "Elect Schmizza for dinner".

References

External links

* [http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2002/04/08/story2.html PBJ: Pizza Schmizza plans to open a store a month]