Sam Williams | Lassen County Times | November 14, 2024
Those of us who have lived in Susanville for any length of time surely are not surprised to hear local restaurant owner Jeff Chew has been nominated as Pizza Factory’s Franchisee of the Year.
As a dynasty franchisee, Jeff recently celebrated his 30th anniversary in business in Susanville. Many of us will remember Pizza Factory’s original location in the Sierra Shopping Center across Main Street from the current, more upscale location in the former County Kitchen building.
Even after 30 years in business, he seems a bit surprised the company would consider him. Still, he said he’s honored to be considered for this national award.
Jeff began his working life as a mechanic in Fresno, California, and attended Yosemite High School in Mariposa near Highway 41, one of the main roads into Yosemite National Park. Many people might not realize it, but Jeff grew up in Oakhurst — the site of the very first Pizza Factory restaurant.
Despite growing up so close to the original restaurant, the Chew family and Pizza Factory have a long history all on their own — his mother owned Pizza Factory restaurants in Chester and later Quincy where Jeff worked and learned the business. When the opportunity to open a Pizza Factory in Susanville opened up, Jeff was ready and willing to jump at the chance. He also now operates a Pizza Factory in Janesville as well. You might be surprised to learn something like 90 percent of Pizza Factory franchises are in small towns such as Chester, Quincy, Janesville and Susanville.
Jeff said he’s very proud of his relationship with the community — which he admits the company has helped him develop over the years. He says he gets a lot of help from his wife Meredith behind the scenes, and while he’s not really the nerdy type to keep up all the new trends in technology as they develop, Pizza Factory has patiently helped his restaurants make their way through all the current marketing trends, and he is very appreciative of the parent company’s assistance. He said he couldn’t have done it without them.
“As a franchisee, Pizza Factory wants you to be involved with the community,” Jeff said. And in that regard, he said “Pizza Factory has helped me tremendously.”
In fact, he said the company taught him how important that relationship with the community is and how it’s equally important for the community get to know Pizza Factory, too. Jeff said over the years he has supported and sponsored many sports teams, students and organizations, and he’s happy to give back to the community that supports him. And many of us fondly remember his days as a race car driver.
He said he believes in the freshness and the high quality of all the ingredients that go into every single one of those “We toss ‘em, they’re awesome!” pies.
“It’s fun as hell when you first get started,” Jeff said, but as the years go by, a number of challenges have arisen.
With the recent changes in the economy, he’s had to raise prices and pay employees higher wages. And just imagine the other changes that have come over the past 30 years. Remember when restaurants had smoking and nonsmoking sections? More people pay with credit cards these days, everyone’s on social media and there’s even online ordering — changes no one could have imagined way back when.
Come what may, Jeff and Pizza Factory are in the game and ready to serve their community.
Congratulations and best wishes to Jeff on his nomination as the national Franchisee of Year.