Pizza Schmizza

{{Infobox company

| name = Pizza Schmizza

| foundation = Oregon on {{start date and age|1993|8|6}}

| logo = PizzaSchmizza.png

| key_people = Andre Jehan, Roger Jehan

| location = Salem, Oregon

| locations = 11 restaurants

| industry = Fast food restaurants

| products = Pizza, salads, soft drinks, beer

| homepage = [http://www.schmizza.com/ www.schmizza.com] and [www.schmizzapublichouse.com]

}}

File:Pizza Schmizza delivery bicycle.jpg

Pizza Schmizza is an American pizza franchise with 9 locations throughout the Portland, Oregon area, and two in southern Oregon.[http://schmizza.com/locations Pizza Schmizza - Locations] Pizza Schmizza primarily sells thin crust pizza by the slice.

History

File:Pizza Schmizza Tanasbourne - Hillsboro, Oregon.JPG]]

Pizza Schmizza opened its first location on August 6, 1993 in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon by brothers Andre and Roger Jehan.Goldfield, Robert. [http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2003/08/04/story7.html Pizza Schmizza ready to take on Puget Sound.] Portland Business Journal, August 1, 2003.

In 2003, Pizza Schmizza received complaints from an advertising watchdog group for hiring homeless men to hold signs bearing the slogan "Pizza Schmizza paid me to hold this sign instead of asking for money".[http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/06/17/offbeat.pizza.ap CNN.com - Pizza company hires homeless to hold ads - June 17, 2003] Owner Andre Jehan countered that this was a way to help the homeless and that the homeless found the arrangement a positive experience.Williams, Geoff. Hot Seat: Andre Jehan. Will Work for Food. Entrepreneur. November 2003, Vol. 31 Issue 11, p38.

Pizza Schmizza received a media award from the Oregon Department of Human Services for support of a program discouraging underage alcohol consumption in 2004.[http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2004news/2004-0113.shtml Oregon DHS: News release January 13, 2004]

In 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southwest Montgomery Schmizza location received media attention for offering a special which included a roll of toilet paper with every order. The promotion coincided with a national toilet paper shortage that resulted from supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19.{{cite news|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/03/dinner-and-toilet-paper-portland-pizza-joint-announces-15-special-amid-coronavirus-outbreak.html|title=Dinner and ... toilet paper? Portland pizza joint announces $15 special amid coronavirus outbreak|last=Ryan|first=Jim|date=March 18, 2020|work=The Oregonian|access-date=January 5, 2023|publisher=Oregonian Media Group}}

=Acquisition by Figaro's Pizza=

After CEO Doug Wetter was unable to do his day-to-day job with Pizza Schmizza, the company went into talks with Figaro's Pizza about selling the company. On March 31, 2008, Pizza Schmizza and Figaro's Pizza completed a deal for Figaro's to acquire Pizza Schmizza.Rogoway, Mike. [http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1207621530181530.xml&coll=7 Pizza Schmizza sells to Figaro's.] The Oregonian, April 8, 2008. Figaro's subsequently spun off the business (December 2014), and the two companies are no longer related.

Related Restaurants

Schmizza International, the owners of the Pizza Schmizza brand, have opened other restaurants in the Portland area including Bethany Public House and Schmizza Public House (a franchise intended to be an upscale version of Pizza Schmizza).{{cite news|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/north-of-26/2014/08/pizza_schmizza_founder_opens_b.html|title=Pizza Schmizza founder opens Bethany Public House with burgers, beer... and pizza (virtual tour)|last=Marum|first=Anna|date=August 26, 2014|work=The Oregonian|access-date=January 5, 2023|publisher=Oregonian Media Group}}{{cite news|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/2015/03/schmizza_public_house_affiliat.html|title=Schmizza Public House, affiliate of Pizza Schmizza, coming to Orenco's Platform District|last=Hammill|first=Luke|date=March 17, 2015|work=The Oregonian|access-date=January 5, 2023|publisher=Oregonian Media Group}}