CPK’S Next Chapter Is
Reflected in Every Detail
of New Prototype From Redesigned Pizza Counter,
of New Prototype From Redesigned Pizza Counter,
Celebrated Return of Hand-Tossed California-Style Pizzas,
Innovative Beverage
Offerings
Including New Signature Cocktails and Flights of Wine
Including New Signature Cocktails and Flights of Wine
LOS ANGELES
(December 3, 2012)—California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the authority on
California-style pizza and creator of the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, opened
its new flagship restaurant today at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, FL, officially
unveiling the company’s new physical space, repositioning of its iconic pizza
hearth and new beverage offerings. According to CPK CEO G.J. Hart, the new
5,390-square-foot venue with a 1,000-square-foot wraparound patio with outdoor
couch and lounge seating “brings CPK back to its roots as a company that
embraces all the things that made it what it is—beginning with California
creativity.”
CPK
Brings California Creativity to Every Meal
“Being ‘Californian’ is not about a place; it’s a mindset,” noted
Hart. “California has never really followed the rules. Thus we are constantly
experimenting and trying new things.”
With
its new ‘reimagined’ concept demonstrated at its new flagship restaurant in
Sawgrass Mills, California Pizza Kitchen plans to bring a stronger California infusion
to locations throughout the country and continue to serve up a fresh, hip,
energetic, interactive atmosphere for its guests.
At
the new restaurant, guests will notice a totally re-created communal space with
flexible, less structured indoor seating, including a family-style table
seating 16, versus traditional fixed built-in booths. Other new seating options
include a large social-styled bar near the entrance or an outdoor terrace
fitted with comfortable lounge seating areas and fire pits. California Pizza
Kitchen’s traditional pizza counter has been re-designed to make the hearth an
even bigger focal point, giving guests the opportunity to interact with CPK’s
pizza chefs and watch them at work as they now hand-stretch and toss CPK’s
signature pizza dough.
California’s
notable environmental roots are evident in CPK’s use of unfinished reclaimed
wood in and outside of the restaurant. Trestlewood planks salvaged from the
Great Salt Lake railroad trestle don the entrance and patio walls.
Reclaimed solid Timber Oak Planks reused from old barn timbers throughout
America, and painstakingly refurbished to retain knot holes, hand-tooling
marks, nail holes, and other character marks flank the bar and Herringbone
walls. Tables are made of salvaged solid American White Oak rough sawn wood
with natural knot holes, variations and other character marks.
“The
reclaimed wood offers a casual, but refined feel,” noted Hart. “Very warm
in color.”
To further transport California into the South Florida locale, a
gallery of canvases fills a large wall with black and white photos of
California interspersed with full-color photographs of favorite local spots.
Taking
The Menu To The Next Level: Surprising, Eyebrow Raising, Smile Making
“Food isn’t meant to be timeless, it should be surprising yet
accessible,” noted California Pizza Kitchen Senior Vice President of Culinary
Innovation Brian Sullivan. “California Pizza Kitchen put California pizza on
the map, and forever changed the way people thought about pizza because being
Californian means daring to re-imagine the norm—to discover something new. The
perfect dish should raise an eyebrow and make you smile.”
CPK’s authentic California approach to cooking and dining means
creating interesting, freshly-made items prepared with high quality ingredients
and uncomplicated pairings (flavors, dishes, beverages). Its new menu and
beverage offerings have been designed to encourage guests to go on
culinary adventures including three wine flight options: Keep Calm and Chardonnay,
California Reds and Adventurous, each allowing guests to experience three,
3-ounce glasses of different wines from the menu. Eight signature cocktails are
also being introduced including “Route 1,” made with Hangar 1 Mandarin Blosson
Vodka and 1800 Silver Tequila and a Strawberry Basil Martini made with VeeV
Acai Spirt, Perfect Puree Strawberry and fresh agave sour.
“We
want our guests to be as inspired by food as we are,” added Sullivan. “We
believe that great meals start with great people—people who have passion for
creating the best dining experience possible. At our core, we’re passionate
about creating meals that you can’t find anywhere else. We embrace culinary
traditions—but we’re always looking for ways to make them new, which means bolder
and unexpected ingredients and flavors.”
The
Guest Experience Moving Forward
“While
some of the new concept elements have been tested in other CPK locations, this
new flagship restaurant features a comprehensive demonstration of what’s in
store for guests in the company’s next chapter,” added Hart. “Based on
layout and building specifications of other CPK locations, we will be
incorporating elements of the new design where we can.”
The new flagship, the seventh full-service CPK in South Florida,
will open with its location at Sawgrass Mills Mall in The Oasis, across from
Nordstrom Rack at 2610 Sawgrass Mills Circle, Sunrise, FL 33323. Operating
hours (including curbside take-out with designated reserved parking) are
Sunday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m. -11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday:
11 a.m.-12 midnight. For more information, call (954) 465-2041; fax number for
take orders is (954) 845-1192.
About California Pizza Kitchen
Born
in Beverly Hills in 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) is a leader in
authentic California style cuisine and is widely known for its innovative menu
items. California Pizza Kitchen provides a range of creative dishes, from
signature California-style hearth-baked pizzas, creative salads, pastas, soups
and sandwiches. A SoCal classic, CPK incites international cravings in over 10
different countries. For more information on California Pizza Kitchen visit www.cpk.com. Follow them on Twitter @calpizzakitchen and like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/californiapizzakitchen.
Media Contact:
Bonnie Kaye,
Kaye Communications, Inc.
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