"I thought hey why not open a pizzeria because who doesn't like pizza right? Everyone who grows up in America has an opinion about pizza," John Kwok, owner and manager of Olive Theory Pizzeria, said.
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"Pizza is like one of my favorite foods. I was so excited. Just getting to be hands on with the start up the business like finding a location, food distributors and everything like that was a really great experience," David Kwok, co-founder of Olive Theory, said.
A family business with a focus on philanthropy. The Kwok brothers wanted to start something that made an impact.
"Our 1/10 pledge, for every 10 pizzas our customers buy we donate one back to the community. Since the beginning we've been open a little over a year now and to date we've donated 3,000 pizzas well more than," David said.
They have partnered with organizations like the Northern Illinois Food Bank to make sure their donations are getting to places where help is needed most.
"I think because we're trying to do this 1/10 pledge we need a very strong local partner that everyone respects and they have the network to help people," David said.
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While giving back the pizzeria is getting good reviews. This fall the pizzerias build-your-own pizza concept topped Buzzfeed's list for best Pizza in Illinois, according to Yelp.
"It was a really big honor and it took me by total surprise and I think that people really respond to A, picking what they want on their pizzas for one set price and B, that they do want to give back to their community and it can be as simple as coming in here for lunch or dinner," David said.
"That's just our philosophy as a business that if should be able to give back to the community and as long as the community is doing well the business will do well as well," he said.
ABC 7 did ask them the age old question: Deep dish or thin crust? They agreed thin is in.
If you want to give back to the community the way they do now is the time. ABC 7 has partnered with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Greater Chicago Food Depository for our "Share the Joy" virtual food drive.