Denver, CO (June 1, 2011) – Organic and eco-friendly pizza restaurant franchise and 2010 Hot Concept Winner, Pizza Fusion is now open in Denver, its first location in Colorado. Pizza Fusion has become one of pizza-lovers’ favorite pizzerias not only because of its award-winning taste, but because they only use the freshest, healthiest and all-natural, hormone, pesticide and chemical-free ingredients.
Pizza Fusion Denver is located at 571 East Colfax Avenue (at Pearl Street). The Denver franchise is operated by Renaissance Pizza LLC, a subsidiary of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Renaissance Uptown Lofts – the Coalition’s newest green affordable housing property built to Enterprise Green Communities™ and LEED® standards to keep energy costs and environmental impacts low. Pizza Fusion Denver not only offers healthy food in an eco-friendly manner, but serves as a job training program for the Coalition’s clients. It teaches marketable skills and provides real-life experience in order to place homeless individuals in jobs in the greater hospitality industry in Denver.
John Parvensky, President of the Coalition says, “We’re pleased to be operating Colorado’s first Pizza Fusion at our newest affordable housing development, Renaissance Uptown Lofts. Pizza Fusion’s motto, “Saving the Earth One Pizza at a Time” aligns well with the Coalition’s mission of ending homelessness, one person at a time.”
Voted “Best Pizza” numerous times, Pizza Fusion’s well-rounded menu offers something for everyone at a great value. Menu items range from traditional pizzas and sandwiches to its extensive offering of handcrafted, specialty pizzas like Four Cheese & Sundried Tomato, Sausage & Tri-Colored Peppers or the popular Founder’s Pie. Pizza Fusion’s award-winning, organic salads offer a tasty meal for a quick lunch or healthy dinner. Beyond its organic offerings, Pizza Fusion also offers a number of menu items for selective eaters, including vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten free pizza and other options.
“The issue of unemployment is something on everyone’s mind, and it’s great to be able to work with such an upstanding organization and align our missions to work towards the greater good,” Pizza Fusion CEO Vaughan Lazar commented. “We’re honored to partner with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and embrace our shared values of heightened social responsibility.”
Pizza Fusion practices a socially and environmentally conscious approach to its entire existence, including the restaurant space, service operations, and business practices. Countertops made of recycled glass, LED lighting, non-VOC paints, Energy Star certified appliances, furniture made from recycled wood, composting and recycling practices, minimally-packaged, low-phosphate cleaning supplies, and paper products made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials are just some of the many ways Pizza Fusion, as an international franchise, ensures that each restaurant is good for the planet.
What is Pizza Fusion? Pizza Fusion is a national restaurant franchise that serves fresh, organic, earth friendly pizza and other offerings in a family-friendly setting. Established in 2006 in Fort Lauderdale Florida as a single restaurant, Pizza Fusion now has 16 restaurants in six states. Pizza Fusion has won numerous awards for its healthy, great tasting pizza and environmentally friendly policies, including the 2010 Hot Concept Award from Nation’s Restaurant News. Pizza Fusion has become one of pizza-lovers’ favorite pizzerias not only because of its award-winning taste, but because they use only the freshest, healthiest, all-natural, hormone-, pesticide- and chemical-free ingredients.
What is Pizza Fusion Denver? Pizza Fusion Denver is the first Pizza Fusion franchise restaurant in Colorado, located at 571 East Colfax Avenue. Pizza Fusion Denver operates under a Franchise Agreement from Pizza Fusion Holdings, Inc. a Florida Corporation. Pizza Fusion Denver is obligated to operate the restaurant under the license and in conformance with the policies and concepts of Pizza Fusion.
Who owns Pizza Fusion Denver? The Pizza Fusion Denver franchise is owned and operated by Renaissance Pizza LLC, a limited liability company that is a subsidiary of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. The Coalition is the sole member of the LLC. The Board of Directors of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has designated its president, John Parvensky, as the Executive Manager of the LLC. As such, he is responsible for ensuring that the restaurant meets all legal requirements for operating a quality restaurant and business enterprise in Colorado.
Why is Pizza Fusion Denver owned by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless? Pizza Fusion Denver is a non-profit enterprise of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless designed to provide job training and employment opportunities to homeless and formerly homeless individuals in Denver who are having difficulty obtaining work in the community.
Where do the profits from Pizza Fusion Denver go? All net proceeds of Pizza Fusion Denver support the job training programs of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. None of the profits go to the benefit of any individual.
Who manages the Pizza Fusion restaurant? The General Manager of the Pizza Fusion Denver restaurant is Mary Putman who has over 30 years experience in the restaurant business. Mary brings a range of culinary and management expertise to Pizza Fusion Denver.
Who are the Pizza Fusion employees? Pizza Fusion Denver is providing job preparation, job training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged individuals who have had difficulties obtaining employment in the Denver job market. All Pizza Fusion Denver employees, except for the General Manager, are homeless or formerly homeless individuals who are served by the various housing and health care programs of the Coalition. The employees receive support from the Coalition’s employment counselors, who are helping these individuals reach their self-sufficiency goals. There are currently 23 individuals employed by Pizza Fusion Denver, at an average wage of $10 per hour.