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Blackjack Pizza Federal Blvd

• Blackjack Pizza Federal and Evans November 5, 2018 We are currently hiring qualified drivers at our location! Stop by to apply or go online too blackjackpizza.com and select the federal and Evans location!
• See 14 photos and 1 tip from 6 visitors to Blackjack Pizza & Salads. 'Excellent Pizza-always get the unlimited topping pizza'. Federal Blvd Denver, CO 80219.

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.

History[edit]

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 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 appeared frequently 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[edit]

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'.^[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[edit]

On January 1, 2013, Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands, a Michigan-based company.^[22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'Blackjack Pizza Franchise Information'. The Franchise Mall. Archived from the original on 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
2. ^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.
3. ^ ^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.
4. ^'Company History'. Blackjack Pizza Franchising. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
5. ^Home. Blackjack Pizza. October 12, 1999. Retrieved on October 18, 2018. '9137 E Mineral Cr - Suite 100 Englewood CO 80112'
6. ^'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.
7. ^'Centennial, Colorado Wards.' City of Centennial. February 3, 2001. Retrieved on October 18, 2018.
8. ^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.'
9. ^ ^abScott, 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.
10. ^'Blackjack Pizza Franchising Inc'. Gaebler Ventures. Archived from the original on 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
11. ^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.
12. ^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.
13. ^Abbott, Karen (2001-01-24). 'Columbine defendants deny responsibility'. Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
14. ^'Colleague of Columbine shooters arrested'. CNN. 1999-06-18. Archived from the original on 2005-03-08. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
15. ^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.
16. ^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.
17. ^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.
18. ^Brown, Irv; Williams, Joe (2008). The Great Book of Denver Sports Lists. Running Press. p. 91. ISBN978-0-7624-3355-1.
19. ^'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. Bonfils was selected by Blackjack Pizza franchisees as the beneficiary of the locally based 80 Cent Pizza Promotion in 2005.
20. ^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.
21. ^'Colorado business'. The Denver Post. 2006-11-01. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
22. ^'Askar Brands: Blackjack Pizza'. Askar Brands. 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-08-15. Retrieved 2014-11-11.

External links[edit]

Blackjack Pizza Federal Heights

Today (September 5) is National Cheese Pizza Day and what better way to celebrate with discounts, freebies and cheesy, doughy goodness?

Americans definitely love their pizza. Frozen pizza sales in the U.S. amounted to approximately $5.47 billion in 2020, according to Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery and IRI, up from the previous year's sales of $4.95 billion. In 2019, Domino's Pizza was the leading pizza restaurant chain in the U.S., followed by Pizza Hut and Little Caesar's respectively, according to a survey done by Restaurant Business and Technomic.

While pizza is a popular dish in America now, its origins comes from Europe. Considered to be birthed in Italy, with Naples considered to be one of the best places to eat the Roman dish, Italians brought over the 'Neapolitan pizza' to New York City. According to Britannica, the first pizzeria opened in New York City in 1905, with the pizza business booming during the WWII.

Unfortunately, we don't have flights awaiting pizza fans to the hometown of the doughy dish. But Newsweek has sourced some great deals to help people across the country make the most of this delclious day.

National Cheese Pizza Day Deals

Gallery: Get America's best Buffalo wings, barbecue and pizza by mail (USA TODAY)

BLACKJACK PIZZA: Two offers for the Colorado-based pizza delivery chain, courtesy of Don't Pay Full. Get 30 percent off your order with code '30XFF' or buy one large 3-topping pizza for only $13.99 using code 'TTL'.

Cici's Pizza: The American buffet restaurant chain, which is based in Irving, Texas, has two offers for people in the U.S. this National Cheese Pizza day. You can get 3 for $5 each for pizza, cheesy bread or cinnamon rolls or free cinnamon rolls with a large specialty pizza purchase, according to Don't Pay Full.

Pizza Hut: One of the most well-known pizza brands in the world is offering a tastemaker large pizza with up to three toppings for only $10. Make sure to visit Don't Pay Full for more details.

Blackjack Pizza's Federal

Pasqually's Pizza & Wings: You can celebrate National Cheese Pizza Day by getting your hands on the Ultimate Cheese Lover's Special and this chain. From today through Monday, September 7, guests can get a free large cheese pizza when they order any large specialty pizza.

The Ultimate Cheese Lover's Special is available through Postmates, UberEats, GrubHub and Door Dash, the company told Newsweek. In the Ultimate Cheese Lover's Special, guests will choose which large specialty pizza (All-Meat, All-Veggie, Supreme or Homestyle BBQ Chicken) they are craving and their large cheese pizza is added automatically.

La Margarita Pizzeria: Head down to the Lower East Side of New York to get a 10 percent discount for pick-up and delivery orders. Order online and use code 'CHEESEPIEDAY' for orders above $15 on National Cheese Pizza day.

Newsweek has affiliate partnerships. If you make a purchase using our links, we may earn a share of the sale.