Azzip Pizza
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Brad Niemeier |
| Headquarters | Evansville , United States |
Area served | Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky tri-state region |
| Products | Pizza |
Azzip Pizza, LLC is a U.S.-based restaurant chain located in Evansville, Indiana, focusing on pizza offerings. The brand provides a highly customizable pizza experience, preparing pies in a conveyor oven right before customers, with more than 16 million possible combinations, including options suitable for gluten-free and vegetarian preferences. Additionally, it features curated pizzas as "Pizza of the Month" or for special events.
History
Brad Niemeier established Azzip Pizza in 2014 after securing victory in the Burton D. Morgan Business Plan Competition at Purdue University in 2012, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. After two years of preparation, the inaugural store opened its doors in Evansville, Indiana, in February 2014. The chain expanded with a second location seven months later in Newburgh, Indiana. The fast-casual model rapidly gained popularity and was recognized as the "Best Restaurant Opened in 2014" by Evansville Living magazine.
In April 2015, Azzip received the Gold Award for "Best Place for Pizza" in Evansville from the Evansville Courier & Press Readers' Choice Awards. That same year marked its entry into Illinois with a new outlet in Champaign, alongside opening an additional store in Evansville.
By 2016, Azzip relocated its headquarters within Evansville and inaugurated its fifth venue—the first in Kentucky—situated in Bowling Green, highlighting the strategic focus on the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky tri-state region. Later that year, a sixth branch commenced operations in Terre Haute, Indiana.
The company announced its seventh site for Bloomington, Indiana, which opened during fall 2017. After operating for two years, the Champaign location closed in October 2017; however, the Bloomington store launched promptly that same month. The eighth establishment began serving customers in Lafayette, Indiana, in April 2018.
Philanthropy
Since 2014, Azzip Pizza has been running its We Give A’Zip Giveback Program aimed at supporting community groups and educational institutions.