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[1] 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.[2] On January 1, 2013, Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands.
While a University of Northern Colorado college student, Vince Schmuhl was a delivery driver for Domino's Pizza.[3] After receiving a business degree in 1981, there were few jobs available, and Schmuhl wanted to provide another option to the major pizza companies.[3] In exchange for equity, his parents, Jim and Wilma Schmuhl, gave him $10,000 to start Blackjack Pizza.[3] Schmuhl named the pizza restaurant after the blackjack game to indicate it was fast food.[3] Both blackjack and dominoes are games, so he wanted to indicate that Blackjack Pizza was an alternative to Domino's Pizza.[3] The company's slogan was "Finally, there's a new game in town."[3] The first Blackjack Pizza store opened on June 29, 1983, in Federal Heights with a second store opening in Greeley by February 1984.[1] By 1986, Blackjack had grown to six corporate stores and one franchisee.[4] The company headquarters, by 1999, was in what was then the Castlewood census-designated place in unincorporatedArapahoe County, Colorado, near Englewood.[5][6] The territory became a part of Centennial,[7] which incorporated in 2001 with all of the territory of the Castlewood CDP.[8]
In 1988, Blackjack became a franchisor with the sale of several corporate stores to franchisees. As of 2018[update] Blackjack Pizza operated 45 stores in five states.[9] Blackjack's tagline is "Better Pizza, Better Price."[10]
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the high schoolseniors who committed the 1999 Columbine High School massacre worked at the Blackjack Pizza store in Littleton, Colorado, and Harris eventually became shift manager.[11] At this pizza parlor, the two teens made important acquaintances who were inadvertently connected to the attack at Columbine High School.[12] 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.[13][14][15]
Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith frequently appeared in Blackjack commercials until October 2008 when Blackjack rolled out a new ad campaign featuring the cast of Impulse Theater.[16] Smith's slogan for Blackjack Pizza ads was "Stick with the home team."[17][18]
Philanthropy
Blackjack Pizza has donated money to several organizations. In 2005, Blackjack donated $8,842.40 to the Bonfils Blood Center Foundation, which Blackjack Pizza selected to be the winner of the "80 Cent Pizza Promotion".[9][19] The pizzeria also sponsored a Future Farmers of America program in Fort Morgan, Colorado.[20] 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.[21]
Acquisitions
On January 1, 2013, Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands, a Michigan-based company.[22]
^ ab. The Franchise Mall. Archived from the original on 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^Bronikoski, Lynn (1996-01-28). . Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^ abcdefBronikoski, Lynn (1996-01-28). "Blackjack Pizza Gears up for Game". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
^. Blackjack Pizza Franchising. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^. Blackjack Pizza. October 12, 1999. Retrieved on October 18, 2018. "9137 E Mineral Cr - Suite 100 Englewood CO 80112"
^"CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: CASTLEWOOD CDP." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 18, 2018. In the 1990 Census Map (index map) on pages 40 and 59.
^United States Summary, 2010: Population and housing unit counts. U.S. Census Bureau, 2012. p. V-20 (SL22-PA20). "CENTENNIAL CITY, CO (2010 population rank 281). Incorporated in 2001, including all of Castlewood and Southglenn CDPs."
^ abScott, Julie (2006-01-30). . Bonfils Blood Center. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^. Gaebler Ventures. Archived from the original on 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^Bartels, Lynn; Crowder, Carla (1999). . Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2008-10-25. Eric and Dylan started at Blackjack in the spring of their sophomore year, cooking pizzas for $5.15 an hour.
^Lowe, Peggy (2000-11-22). . Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^Abbott, Karen (2001-01-24). "Columbine defendants deny responsibility". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^. CNN. 1999-06-18. Archived from the original on 2005-03-08. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^Pitzel, Heather (2004-04-19). . Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2009-03-01. Retrieved 2008-10-25. Duran, meanwhile, was working with Klebold and Harris at a Blackjack Pizza shop. He introduced them to Manes at a gun show in Denver because they wanted to buy his TEC-DC9.
^Cotton, Anthony (2007-09-30). . The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-25. For most of his 13 years in town, Smith said he wasn't very interested in doing commercials, feeling they might be a distraction from his main task - playing football. He recently relented, though, doing some spots for Blackjack Pizza.
^Thorburn, Ryan (2006-08-15). "Tatum still trails Mike Bell at RB". Daily Camera. Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^. Rocky Mountain News. 2006-03-28. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2008-10-25. Blackjack Pizza presented Bonfils Blood Center Foundation with a check for $8,842.40. Blackjack Pizza franchisees selected Bonfils as the beneficiary of the locally based 80 Cent Pizza Promotion in 2005.
^Chaney, Jesse (2008-10-01). . Fort Morgan Times. Archived from the original on 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^. The Denver Post. 2006-11-01. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
^. Askar Brands. 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-08-15. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
External links
Blackjack Pizza website
May 04, 2023
blackjack, pizza, colorado, based, pizza, delivery, chain, founded, 1983, former, domino, pizza, employee, vince, schmuhl, because, domino, pizza, only, major, pizza, delivery, company, rocky, mountain, region, thought, customers, would, appreciate, alternativ. 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 1 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 2 On January 1 2013 Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands Blackjack Pizza FranchisingIndustryRestaurantsFoundedJune 29 1983 39 years ago 1983 06 29 HeadquartersBloomfield Hills Michigan U S Key peopleVince Schmuhl Founder amp PresidentProductsPizzaNumber of employees800 estimated Websitewww wbr blackjackpizza wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Philanthropy 3 Acquisitions 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditWhile a University of Northern Colorado college student Vince Schmuhl was a delivery driver for Domino s Pizza 3 After receiving a business degree in 1981 there were few jobs available and Schmuhl wanted to provide another option to the major pizza companies 3 In exchange for equity his parents Jim and Wilma Schmuhl gave him 10 000 to start Blackjack Pizza 3 Schmuhl named the pizza restaurant after the blackjack game to indicate it was fast food 3 Both blackjack and dominoes are games so he wanted to indicate that Blackjack Pizza was an alternative to Domino s Pizza 3 The company s slogan was Finally there s a new game in town 3 The first Blackjack Pizza store opened on June 29 1983 in Federal Heights with a second store opening in Greeley by February 1984 1 By 1986 Blackjack had grown to six corporate stores and one franchisee 4 The company headquarters by 1999 was in what was then the Castlewood census designated place in unincorporated Arapahoe County Colorado near Englewood 5 6 The territory became a part of Centennial 7 which incorporated in 2001 with all of the territory of the Castlewood CDP 8 In 1988 Blackjack became a franchisor with the sale of several corporate stores to franchisees As of 2018 update Blackjack Pizza operated 45 stores in five states 9 Blackjack s tagline is Better Pizza Better Price 10 Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold the high school seniors who committed the 1999 Columbine High School massacre worked at the Blackjack Pizza store in Littleton Colorado and Harris eventually became shift manager 11 At this pizza parlor the two teens made important acquaintances who were inadvertently connected to the attack at Columbine High School 12 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 13 14 15 Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith frequently appeared in Blackjack commercials until October 2008 when Blackjack rolled out a new ad campaign featuring the cast of Impulse Theater 16 Smith s slogan for Blackjack Pizza ads was Stick with the home team 17 18 Philanthropy EditBlackjack Pizza has donated money to several organizations In 2005 Blackjack donated 8 842 40 to the Bonfils Blood Center Foundation which Blackjack Pizza selected to be the winner of the 80 Cent Pizza Promotion 9 19 The pizzeria also sponsored a Future Farmers of America program in Fort Morgan Colorado 20 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 21 Acquisitions EditOn January 1 2013 Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands a Michigan based company 22 See also EditList of food companies List of pizza chains of the United StatesPortals Colorado Companies FoodReferences Edit a b Blackjack Pizza Franchise Information The Franchise Mall Archived from the original on 2008 09 24 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Bronikoski Lynn 1996 01 28 Black Jack Pizza Gears up for Game Rocky Mountain News Archived from the original on 2012 10 22 Retrieved 2008 10 25 a b c d e f Bronikoski Lynn 1996 01 28 Blackjack Pizza Gears up for Game Rocky Mountain News Archived from the original on 2020 07 06 Retrieved 2020 07 06 Company History Blackjack Pizza Franchising Archived from the original on 2008 10 13 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Home Blackjack Pizza October 12 1999 Retrieved on October 18 2018 9137 E Mineral Cr Suite 100 Englewood CO 80112 CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP CASTLEWOOD CDP U S Census Bureau Retrieved on October 18 2018 In the 1990 Census Map index map on pages 40 and 59 Centennial Colorado Wards City of Centennial February 3 2001 Retrieved on October 18 2018 United States Summary 2010 Population and housing unit counts U S Census Bureau 2012 p V 20 SL22 PA20 CENTENNIAL CITY CO 2010 population rank 281 Incorporated in 2001 including all of Castlewood and Southglenn CDPs a b Scott Julie 2006 01 30 Blackjack Pizza Customers Raise Dough for Bonfils Blood Center Bonfils Blood Center Archived from the original on 2009 01 05 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Blackjack Pizza Franchising Inc Gaebler Ventures Archived from the original on 2007 10 19 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Bartels Lynn Crowder Carla 1999 Fatal Friendship Rocky Mountain News Archived from the original on 2008 12 05 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Eric and Dylan started at Blackjack in the spring of their sophomore year cooking pizzas for 5 15 an hour Lowe Peggy 2000 11 22 Pizza Jobs Gave Connections Killers Made Contacts Who Helped Them with Guns Explosives They Used in School Attack Rocky Mountain News Archived from the original on 2012 10 23 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Abbott Karen 2001 01 24 Columbine defendants deny responsibility Rocky Mountain News Archived from the original on 2012 09 12 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Colleague of Columbine shooters arrested CNN 1999 06 18 Archived from the original on 2005 03 08 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Pitzel Heather 2004 04 19 Manes I made a bad mistake Rocky Mountain News Archived from the original on 2009 03 01 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Duran meanwhile was working with Klebold and Harris at a Blackjack Pizza shop He introduced them to Manes at a gun show in Denver because they wanted to buy his TEC DC9 Cotton Anthony 2007 09 30 The game of commercial appeal The Denver Post Archived from the original on 2012 10 16 Retrieved 2008 10 25 For most of his 13 years in town Smith said he wasn t very interested in doing commercials feeling they might be a distraction from his main task playing football He recently relented though doing some spots for Blackjack Pizza Thorburn Ryan 2006 08 15 Tatum still trails Mike Bell at RB Daily Camera Archived from the original on 2007 10 20 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Brown Irv Williams Joe 2008 The Great Book of Denver Sports Lists Running Press p 91 ISBN 978 0 7624 3355 1 On the Move Noteworthy Rocky Mountain News 2006 03 28 Archived from the original on 2012 10 14 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Blackjack Pizza presented Bonfils Blood Center Foundation with a check for 8 842 40 Blackjack Pizza franchisees selected Bonfils as the beneficiary of the locally based 80 Cent Pizza Promotion in 2005 Chaney Jesse 2008 10 01 FFA project helps local seniors Fort Morgan Times Archived from the original on 2008 10 02 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Colorado business The Denver Post 2006 11 01 Archived from the original on 2012 10 16 Retrieved 2008 10 25 Askar Brands Blackjack Pizza Askar Brands 2013 Archived from the original on 2014 08 15 Retrieved 2014 11 11 External links EditBlackjack Pizza website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blackjack Pizza amp oldid 1144646676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
