FOOD NEWS
Is California Pizza Kitchen Actually Closing?
By Nicole Rivas
Since 1985, California Pizza Kitchen has stood out for its diverse California agricultural offerings and its founders being former federal prosecutors, and it has since blossomed with over 200 restaurants in eight countries. It has even become the official pizza of the LA Dodgers, but rumors are now swirling around that CPK is closing its doors for good.
California’s Pizza Kitchen’s eclectic menu — which includes pasta, seafood, and even Mexican street corn — and its varieties of frozen pizzas sold in grocery stores didn’t prevent the chain from falling upon hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, their dine-in sales fell to 77%, and four months later, the company even filed for bankruptcy.
CPK has not only restructured its finances and embarked upon a domestic franchise program in December 2021 to reclaim their losses, but they’ve also revamped their menu. New additions include Avocado Super Green Pizza and Crispy Artichoke Salad, and seasonal dishes the California Summer Fields Salad and Summer Fruit Sangria are joining the menu year round.