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&pizza facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Michael Lastoria (CEO) Steve Salis |
| Headquarters |
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USA
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Number of locations
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55 |
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Area served
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East Coast of the United States |
| Products | Italian cuisine |
&pizza (pronounced "And Pizza") is a popular restaurant chain in the United States. It's known for making personal-sized pizzas that are shaped like rectangles, not circles! You can choose exactly what you want on your pizza, making it a fun and customizable meal. &pizza has many locations, mostly on the East Coast of the U.S., including places like Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Each &pizza shop is designed to fit in with its local neighborhood, often featuring art by local artists. Some locations even offer drinks like beer, wine, and cocktails for adults.
Contents
The Story of &pizza
How &pizza Started
&pizza was started by two people, Michael Lastoria and Steve Salis. They opened the very first &pizza shop in July 2012. It was located on H Street in Washington, D.C. Steve Salis was the first CEO of the company until 2015. After that, Michael Lastoria became both the CEO and the creative director.
Growing Bigger
In 2016, &pizza received a large investment of $25 million. This money helped the company grow and open new restaurants. They expanded into New York City, opening their first location there in June 2017. &pizza also teamed up with a bakery called Milk Bar in July 2017. Together, they opened a joint restaurant in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In October 2017, &pizza received more funding from another company called RSE Ventures.
Supporting Fair Pay
The restaurant chain has also spoken up in Congress. They supported the idea of a $15 minimum wage for workers by 2023. This means they believe employees should earn at least $15 an hour.
Fun Facts and Marketing
Pi Day Celebrations
Since 2015, &pizza has had a special tradition on Pi Day, which is March 14th (3/14). On this day, they host weddings right inside their pizza shops! They offer free pizza, cake, drinks, and even photographers for the couples. In 2018, &pizza hosted over a dozen weddings in cities like D.C., Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia. Also on Pi Day, loyalty members can buy pizzas for just $3.14.
Unique Employee Perks
&pizza has a unique way to show appreciation for its employees. If an employee wants to, the company will pay for them to get a tattoo of the &pizza logo. This is a special way for employees to show their connection to the company.
Trademark Dispute
The &pizza company once had a legal disagreement with another pizza chain from the UK called @pizza. &pizza claimed that @pizza was using a similar name and causing confusion. This legal battle lasted for three years, but in 2020, the court decided to dismiss the claim. This means the case was closed, and @pizza was allowed to keep its name.