The Pizza & Beer Authority Debuts in Columbia, S.C. Beginning Today, Feb. 2
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, a national casual dining restaurant known for its delicious, handcrafted pizza and vast craft beer selection, announced today that it has opened its first South Carolina location in Columbia at 802 Gervais Street, Suite 100C. The restaurant will create nearly 120 jobs for the area. To celebrate the opening in Columbia, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom has partnered with local charity, Harvest Hope Food Bank. One dollar from every Chicago 7 and Meat Me specialty pizza ordered after 3 p.m. this month through February 22 will be donated to the organization to provide for the needs of hungry people by gathering and sharing quality food with dignity, compassion and education.
“Harvest Hope Food Bank has a long history of serving the Columbia area, as well as the region, and we’re proud to partner with them to raise funds to help end hunger in the community,” said Mike Mrlik, President of Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom. “We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our opening than to invest in the well-being of our newfound community. We look forward to introducing everyone in Columbia to our freshly, handcrafted pizza and diverse menu of world-class craft beers this month while helping out an incredible organization such as the Harvest Hope Food Bank.”
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom offers an expansive menu ranging from shareable appetizers and fresh salads to taproom classics including hearty burgers and handcrafted pizzas. Since its inception, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom has been committed to serving the highest quality pizza and craft beer the right way. Old Chicago Columbia will feature a variety of Carolina craft beers from breweries such as River Rat Brewery, Conquest Brewing and RJ Rockers Brewing Company. Also, among the variety of 14 specialty pizzas guests may choose from, these two most popular pizzas will benefit the Harvest Hope Food Bank:
- Chicago 7– Pepperoni, Italian sausage, red onions, black olives, green peppers, sliced mushrooms and signature house pizza sauce.
- Meat Me – Loaded with four premium meaty toppings and garnished with green olives and fresh basil.
The 5,573-square-foot restaurant, including patio dining, also features 17 HD televisions for prime sports viewing along with 36 beer taps pouring the finest brews tasted and selected by a Certified Cicerone – the equivalent to a wine sommelier in the beer world.
Whether its lunch, a first date or a sporting championship celebration, the Columbia community is welcome to gather around at Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom to share good times, great beer and made-from-scratch food daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. To learn more about Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, visit www.oldchicago.com.
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom (Old Chicago) is a traditional, casual dining restaurant specializing in Chicago-style pizzas, taproom classics and craft beer. Founded in 1976, Old Chicago operates in 24 states with 102 restaurants. With over 30 craft beers on tap, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is also the home of the World Beer Tour, which rewards members for enjoying 110 of the best craft beers from across the globe. Visit www.oldchicago.com to learn more and to find the restaurant nearest you. For information about franchise opportunities, visit www.ocfranchising.com.
CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, Inc. is the largest craft brewery restaurant operator in the country with nearly 200 franchised and company-owned restaurants primarily operating under the Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants and Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries brands. As a leader in the casual dining segment, CraftWorks also operates strong regional brands, including ChopHouse and Big River, and employs more than 12,000 people throughout the U.S. All of CraftWorks’ restaurant brands have innovative menus with made-from-scratch food and a vast selection of unique craft beer, as well as unbeatable service and loyalty programs that tout over a half-million active members. Based in Broomfield, Colo., CraftWorks is not only committed to serving its loyal guests, but also the communities in which its restaurants operate. In 2000, the CraftWorks Foundation was formed and has contributed millions of dollars positively impacting communities throughout the country. For additional information about CraftWorks, the foundation and its craft brewery restaurant brands, please visit www.craftworksrestaurants.com.
Harvest Hope began in Columbia in 1981 as a shared vision of business and faith leaders wishing to provide for the hungry in their community. From simple beginnings, Harvest Hope increased the scope of its mission and now provides hunger relief to struggling individuals and families across 20 counties, in the Pee Dee, Midlands and Greater Greenville regions of South Carolina.
To help end hunger in our South Carolina communities and bring more meals to tables of struggling families, individuals, seniors and children, Harvest Hope pledges their One Goal of providing 26.7 million meals to South Carolinians every year by 2018. To learn more about Harvest Hope’s mission and how to help provide for South Carolinians struggling with hunger, visit www.harvesthope.org.
