Rick Rosenfield is the co-founder of California Pizza Kitchen. The restaurant brand that helped pioneer California style pizza and introduced the world to the iconic barbecue chicken pizza.

Before launching California Pizza Kitchen, Rick spent more than a decade as a federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney alongside his law partner Larry Flax. Although both had successful legal careers, they shared a passion for food and entrepreneurship. At the age of 40, they left the practice of law behind to pursue an idea. At that time they had no name, no menu and no chef.

From personally guaranteeing their first lease and borrowing $250,000 to open the restaurant, to raising additional capital from friends and family before serving a single customer, Rick shares the story behind California Pizza Kitchen's early days. He discusses how barbecue chicken pizza became an overnight sensation, the mentors who encouraged them to take the leap, the challenges of scaling from one restaurant to 25 locations in just seven years and the lessons learned from partnering with PepsiCo during one of the restaurant industry's biggest acquisitions.

Today, California Pizza Kitchen remains one of the most influential restaurant brands of the last four decades. Through his new memoir, Rick reflects on the entrepreneurial journey, leadership principles and culture that turned a bold idea into a global restaurant company.

In this episode, we talk about:
• Leaving a successful legal career at age 40 to start California Pizza Kitchen
• How the idea for California Pizza Kitchen was born
• Building a business with no menu, no chef and no restaurant experience
• Raising capital from friends, family and early investors
• Creating the legendary barbecue chicken pizza
• Opening the first California Pizza Kitchen in Beverly Hills
• Scaling from one restaurant to 25 locations in seven years
• Building a culture centered around Respect, Opportunity, Communication and Kindness (ROCK)
• Growing through shopping centers and national expansion
• Partnering with PepsiCo and the $100 million acquisition
• The challenges of rapid growth and maintaining company culture

Resources & Links
Rick’s Website: https://www.rickrosenfield.com/
Rick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-rosenfield-9185933a9

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