Blackjack Pizza is a Westminster, Colorado-based pizza delivery chain founded in 1983 by former Domino's Pizza employee, Vince Schmuhl, because Domino's Pizza was the only major pizza delivery company in the Rocky Mountain region.[1] The pizza chain is the largest in Colorado with 800 employees, some of whom work part-time.[2]
The first Blackjack Pizza store opened June 29, 1983 in Federal Heights with a second store opening in Greeley by February of 1984.[1] By 1986, Blackjack grew to six corporate stores and one franchisee.[3]
In 1988, Blackjack became a franchisor with the sale of several corporate stores to franchisees. Today, Blackjack Pizza operates 45 stores in four states.[4] Blackjack's tagline is "Better Pizza, Better Price."[5]
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.[6] Smith's slogan for Blackjack Pizza ads was "Stick with the home team."[7][8]
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".[4][9] The pizzeria also sponsored a Future Farmers of America program in Fort Morgan, Colorado.[10] 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.[11]
For the first time in 2007, Blackjack appeared on Life Decisions International's The Boycott List, a list of corporations that LDI believes should be boycotted, since they support Planned Parenthood, a group that provides family planning services, one of which is abortion.[12]
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the high school seniors who committed the Columbine High School massacre worked part-time for $5.15 an hour at the Blackjack Pizza store in Littleton, Colorado.[13] At this pizza parlor, the two teens formed important connections that led them to commit their attack at Columbine High School.[14] The two teens were able to meet Philip Duran, the man who sold them the TEC-9 that they used in the attack, through the connection of Mark Manes, a fellow employee at the Blackjack Pizza store where they worked.[15][16][17]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Blackjack Pizza Franchise Information". The Franchise Mall. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqDXI6WX. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ Bronikoski, Lynn (1996-01-28). "Black Jack Pizza Gears up for Game". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqHGlIbe. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Company History". Blackjack Pizza Franchising. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqOL7FRz. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ a b Scott, Julie (2006-01-30). "Blackjack Pizza Customers Raise Dough for Bonfils Blood Center". Bonfils Blood Center. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.bonfils.org/news_and_events/newsroom/news_releases/2006/pr_01302006.cfm. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Blackjack Pizza Franchising Inc.". Gaebler Ventures. Archived from the original on 2007-10-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20071019001642/http://www.gaebler.com/Blackjack-Pizza-Franchising.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ Cotton, Anthony (2007-09-30). "The game of commercial appeal". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqElIH3G. 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 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqEcqDYc. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ Brown, Irv; Williams, Joe (2008). The Great Book of Denver Sports Lists. Running Press. p. 91. ISBN 0762433558. http://books.google.com/books?id=7x17UAso95AC&pg=RA1-PT50&dq=%22Blackjack+Pizza%22#PRA1-PT50,M1.
- ^ "On the Move: Noteworthy". Rocky Mountain News. 2006-03-28. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqICPeWH. Retrieved 2008-10-25. "Blackjack Pizza presented Bonfils Blood Center Foundation with a check for $8,842.40. Bonfils was selected by Blackjack Pizza franchisees 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 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqIakLwJ. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Colorado business". The Denver Post. 2006-11-01. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqMy45zX. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Newly Identified Corporate and Charitable Group Supporters of Planned Parenthood Named". LifeSiteNews. 2007-01-11. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqMUGCDW. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ Bartels, Lynn; Crowder, Carla (1999). "Fatal Friendship". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqJpfpg0. 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 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqJCtLe0. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ Abbott, Karen (2001-01-24). "Columbine defendants deny responsibility". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqLLG0UI. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Colleague of Columbine shooters arrested". CNN. 1999-06-18. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqLeZiv4. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ Pitzel, Heather (2004-04-19). "Manes: 'I made a bad mistake'". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5bqLzRD8n. 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."
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