{{short description|Pizza chain in Colorado, United States}} {{Infobox company | name = Blackjack Pizza Franchising | logo = BLACKJACK Pizza Logo.png | type = | slogan = | founded = {{start date and age|1983|6|29}} | hq_location = Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, U.S. | key_people = Vince Schmuhl, Founder & President | industry = Restaurants Franchising | products = Pizza | num_locations = 45 | num_locations_year = 2018 | revenue = | website = {{URL|http://www.blackjackpizza.com/}} |}} '''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<ref name="FranchiseMall">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefranchisemall.com/franchises/details/10976-0-Blackjack_Pizza.htm |title=Blackjack Pizza Franchise Information |accessdate=2008-10-25 |work=The Franchise Mall |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924165346/http://www.thefranchisemall.com/franchises/details/10976-0-Blackjack_Pizza.htm |archivedate=2008-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and he thought customers would appreciate an alternative. <ref>{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bronikoski |title=Black Jack Pizza Gears up for Game |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67760523.html |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=1996-01-28 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022024942/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67760523.html |archivedate=2012-10-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On January 1, 2013, Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands.
==History== While a University of Northern Colorado college student, Vince Schmuhl was a delivery driver for Domino's Pizza.<ref name="Bronikoski1996-01-28">{{cite news |last=Bronikoski |first=Lynn |date=1996-01-28 |title=Blackjack Pizza Gears up for Game |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EB4E4629100DB2E&f=basic |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |accessdate=2020-07-06 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200706011248/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EB4E4629100DB2E&f=basic |archivedate=2020-07-06 }}</ref> After receiving a business degree in 1981, there were few jobs available, and Schmuhl wanted to provide another option to the major pizza companies.<ref name="Bronikoski1996-01-28"/> In exchange for equity, his parents, Jim and Wilma Schmuhl, gave him $10,000 to start Blackjack Pizza.<ref name="Bronikoski1996-01-28"/> Schmuhl named the pizza restaurant after the blackjack game to indicate it was fast food.<ref name="Bronikoski1996-01-28"/> Both blackjack and dominoes are games, so he wanted to indicate that Blackjack Pizza was an alternative to Domino's Pizza.<ref name="Bronikoski1996-01-28"/> The company's slogan was "Finally, there's a new game in town."<ref name="Bronikoski1996-01-28"/> The first Blackjack Pizza store opened on June 29, 1983, in Federal Heights with a second store opening in Greeley by February 1984.<ref name="FranchiseMall"/> By 1986, Blackjack had grown to six corporate stores and one franchisee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackjackpizza.com/history.php |title=Company History |accessdate=2008-10-25 |work=Blackjack Pizza Franchising |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013191805/http://www.blackjackpizza.com/history.php |archivedate=2008-10-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company headquarters, by 1999, was in what was then the Castlewood census-designated place in unincorporated Arapahoe County, Colorado, near Englewood.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19991012062752/http://www.blackjackpizza.com/ Home]. Blackjack Pizza. October 12, 1999. Retrieved on October 18, 2018. "9137 E Mineral Cr - Suite 100 Englewood CO 80112"</ref><ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st08_Colorado/Place/0812442_Castlewood/CBP0812442_001.pdf CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: CASTLEWOOD CDP]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 18, 2018. In the 1990 Census Map ([https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st08_Colorado/08005_Arapahoe/90B08005_000.pdf index map]) on pages [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st08_Colorado/08005_Arapahoe/90B08005_040.pdf 40] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st08_Colorado/08005_Arapahoe/90B08005_059.pdf 59].</ref> The territory became a part of Centennial,<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20010203133500/http://centennialcolorado.com/maps/at_large_map.htm Centennial, Colorado Wards]." City of Centennial. February 3, 2001. Retrieved on October 18, 2018.</ref> which incorporated in 2001 with all of the territory of the Castlewood CDP.<ref>''United States Summary, 2010: Population and housing unit counts''. U.S. Census Bureau, 2012. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=mePDaCpSDn0C&dq=Castlewood+Centennial+incorporation&pg=SL22-PA20 V-20] (SL22-PA20). "CENTENNIAL CITY, CO (2010 population rank 281). Incorporated in 2001, including all of Castlewood and Southglenn CDPs."</ref>
In 1988, Blackjack became a franchisor with the sale of several corporate stores to franchisees. {{Asof|2018}} Blackjack Pizza operated 45 stores in five states.<ref name="Bonfils">{{cite news |first=Julie |last=Scott |title=Blackjack Pizza Customers Raise Dough for Bonfils Blood Center |url=http://www.bonfils.org/news_and_events/newsroom/news_releases/2006/pr_01302006.cfm |work=Bonfils Blood Center |date=2006-01-30 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105170209/http://www.bonfils.org/news_and_events/newsroom/news_releases/2006/pr_01302006.cfm |archivedate=2009-01-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Blackjack's tagline is "Better Pizza, Better Price."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaebler.com/Blackjack-Pizza-Franchising.htm |title=Blackjack Pizza Franchising Inc. |accessdate=2008-10-25 |work=Gaebler Ventures |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019001642/http://www.gaebler.com/Blackjack-Pizza-Franchising.htm |archivedate=2007-10-19 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |author2=Crowder, Carla |title=Fatal Friendship |url=http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/0822fata1.shtml |work=Rocky Mountain News |year=1999 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |quote=Eric and Dylan started at Blackjack in the spring of their sophomore year, cooking pizzas for $5.15 an hour. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205024601/http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/0822fata1.shtml |archivedate=2008-12-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At this pizza parlor, the two teens made important acquaintances who were inadvertently connected to the attack at Columbine High School.<ref>{{cite news |first=Peggy |last=Lowe |title=Pizza Jobs Gave Connections Killers Made Contacts Who Helped Them with Guns, Explosives They Used in School Attack |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E14F350EB7AC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=2000-11-22 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023201100/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4E14F350EB7AC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archivedate=2012-10-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |first=Karen |last=Abbott |title=Columbine defendants deny responsibility |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2001/jan/24/columbine-defendants-deny-responsibility/?printer=1/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=2001-01-24 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120912222636/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2001/jan/24/columbine-defendants-deny-responsibility/?printer=1/ |archivedate=2012-09-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Colleague of Columbine shooters arrested |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9906/17/columbine.arrest/ |work=CNN |date=1999-06-18 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308104751/http://www.cnn.com/US/9906/17/columbine.arrest/ |archivedate=2005-03-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Heather |last=Pitzel |title=Manes: 'I made a bad mistake' |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2004/apr/19/manes-i-made-a-bad-mistake/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=2004-04-19 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |quote=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. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301014431/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2004/apr/19/manes-i-made-a-bad-mistake/ |archivedate=2009-03-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Anthony |last=Cotton |title=The game of commercial appeal |url=http://www.denverpost.com/broncosmailbag/ci_7039651 |work=The Denver Post |date=2007-09-30 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |quote=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. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016023205/http://www.denverpost.com/broncosmailbag/ci_7039651 |archivedate=2012-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Smith's slogan for Blackjack Pizza ads was "Stick with the home team."<ref>{{cite news |first=Ryan |last=Thorburn |title=Tatum still trails Mike Bell at RB |url=http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/broncos/article/0,1713,BDC_2453_4920558,00.html |work=Daily Camera |date=2006-08-15 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20071020011612/http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/broncos/article/0,1713,BDC_2453_4920558,00.html |archivedate=2007-10-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Great Book of Denver Sports Lists |last=Brown |first=Irv |author2=Williams, Joe |year=2008 |publisher=Running Press |isbn=978-0-7624-3355-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7x17UAso95AC&dq=%22Blackjack+Pizza%22&pg=RA1-PT50 |page=91 }}</ref>
==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".<ref name="Bonfils"/><ref>{{cite news |title=On the Move: Noteworthy |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=110A4B0CA9BE62D8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=2006-03-28 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |quote=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. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014124223/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=110A4B0CA9BE62D8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archivedate=2012-10-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The pizzeria also sponsored a Future Farmers of America program in Fort Morgan, Colorado.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Chaney |title=FFA project helps local seniors |url=http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/news/2008/oct/01/ffa-project-helps-local-seniors/ |work=Fort Morgan Times |date=2008-10-01 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002132731/http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/news/2008/oct/01/ffa-project-helps-local-seniors/ |archivedate=2008-10-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2006, the franchise offered a deal to customers: every time they ordered the "Children's Hospital Special", the franchise would give a dollar to the Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colorado business |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_4587959 |work=The Denver Post |date=2006-11-01 |accessdate=2008-10-25 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016023256/http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_4587959 |archivedate=2012-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Acquisitions== On January 1, 2013, Blackjack Pizza was acquired by Askar Brands, a Michigan-based company.<ref name="Askar Brands">{{cite web |url=http://askarbrands.com/askarbrands-blackjack-pizza.html |title=Askar Brands: Blackjack Pizza |date=2013 |publisher=Askar Brands |accessdate=2014-11-11 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815205650/http://askarbrands.com/askarbrands-blackjack-pizza.html |archivedate=2014-08-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== See also == * List of food companies * List of pizza chains of the United States {{Portal bar|Colorado|Companies|Food}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.blackjackpizza.com/ Blackjack Pizza website]
{{pizza chains}}
Category:Westminster, Colorado Category:Companies based in Jefferson County, Colorado Category:Economy of the Western United States Category:Regional restaurant chains in the United States Category:Pizza chains of the United States Category:Restaurants established in 1983 Category:Pizza franchises Category:1983 establishments in Colorado