Hakki Akdeniz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hakki Akdeniz
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| Born | February 1, 1984 Silvan, Diyarbakır, Turkey
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| Occupation | Restaurateur, pizza chef |
Hakki Akdeniz (born February 1, 1984) is an American restaurateur. He is famous for owning and starting the Champion Pizza chain in New York City.
Hakki Akdeniz's Amazing Journey
Hakki Akdeniz was born in 1984 in Turkey. He grew up in a big Kurdish family with many brothers and sisters. From a young age, he worked in restaurants. There, he learned how to make delicious flatbreads called lahmajoun.
In 1997, Hakki moved to Montreal, Canada. He worked at his brother's pizza shop. Later, in 2001, his tourist visa ran out. This meant he had to leave Canada. So, he moved to New York. He asked for asylum, which means he asked the country for protection and permission to stay.
When he first arrived in New York, things were very tough. He planned to stay with a friend, but it didn't work out. For three months, he had no home. He slept in a cheap hotel, in Grand Central Station, and at a shelter called Bowery Mission.
Even though it was hard, Hakki kept working in restaurants. He started by washing dishes. Then, he learned to make pizzas. He saved every bit of money he earned. His dream was to open his very own pizza shop. In 2009, his dream came true when he opened his first pizza place in lower Manhattan.
Becoming a Pizza Champion
Hakki Akdeniz loved making pizza. For many years, he entered pizza-making contests. In late 2010, he won the New York Pizza Showcase! He amazed everyone with his tricks, like spinning pizza dough while it was on fire.
Winning this contest changed everything for him. He became the main story in PMQ, a magazine about pizza. He shared the magazine around his shop to get more customers. Winning also helped him get a special green card called an EB-1. This card is for people with amazing talents.
The New York Times newspaper wrote about him. They said he became a "pizza celebrity." People knew him for his cool tricks, like tossing and spinning dough. Sometimes, he even did it with fire!
Hakki never forgot his difficult past. He stayed involved with charities that help people without homes. He often gave free pizza and other help to shelters and groups. In 2019, he received a Beacon Award. In 2022, he got a Carnegie Corporation of New York Great Immigrant Award. These awards honor people who have done great things and contributed to society.
Champion Pizza: A Winning Business
Hakki Akdeniz opened his first pizzeria on Essex Street in Lower Manhattan in late 2009. At first, his business struggled. But after he won the 2010 New York Pizza Showcase, he got a lot of attention from the news.
People started calling him "Champion." This nickname became the name of his pizzeria: Champion Pizza. He also shared his inspiring life story as part of his business. By 2024, there were 15 Champion Pizza locations! Most of them are in New York City, but you can also find them in Texas and Florida.
Champion Pizza is known for its thin crust. They use many different toppings. You can buy their pizzas fresh at the pizzerias or find them frozen in stores.
