ZACHARY’S HOLIDAY PARTY 2017!

Zachary’s celebrated the holidays at Lake Chalet in Oakland! We ate, we laughed, we took too many photo booth pics and we danced the night away! It’s always a blast to see everyone gussied up for a special event. We are truly lucky to work with so many AMAZING employee owners!

A group of five people posing at a party. They are wearing various fun and oversized glasses, and some have beaded necklaces. The background is a plain white curtain. They are smiling and appear to be enjoying themselves.A man with a beard smiles while holding another man wearing a red bow tie and black shirt, who is laughing. They are posing playfully in front of a white curtain. Three people posing against a white curtain. One wears reindeer antlers, another has a red cowboy hat and oversized yellow glasses, and the third person holds a microphone, leaning in while smiling. They all appear to be having fun. Four people pose against a white curtain. The person in the center wears a red hat and holds a staff, while the person on the right wears a crown. The people on the left and center right smile, creating a lighthearted atmosphere. A group of six people posing playfully in a photo booth. They are wearing oversized glasses and hats, with one person holding a magnifying glass. The background is a white curtain, and everyone appears to be having fun.

Three men pose for a photo. One wears a red cowboy hat, another holds a decorative sword, and the third holds a pipe. They stand in front of a photo booth backdrop with text at the top.

Four people posing for a photo in front of a white curtain. Three men and one woman are standing together, dressed in casual to semi-formal attire, holding drinks, and looking in different directions.Three men stand together outdoors at night, smiling. The man in the center wears a scarf and casual outfit, while the other two wear suits and ties. They have their arms around each other. The background shows a building with lights.Four men are standing closely together and smiling in a warmly lit indoor setting. One is wearing a festive red sweater with a Christmas design, while the others are dressed in dark, casual attire. Holiday decorations hang from the ceiling.Two men smiling and standing together in a warmly lit room with a wooden ceiling and exposed beams. The man on the left wears a white shirt and dark suit jacket, while the man on the right wears a dark coat. People and lights are visible in the background.

A man wearing a crown and a woman with reindeer antlers smile and embrace in front of a white curtain. The man is in a dark shirt, and the woman is in a white top.

ZACHARY’S CELEBRATES EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP MONTH

Happy National Employee Ownership Month!

Zachary’s is an ESOP. What is an ESOP, you ask? ESOP stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan. All of Zachary’s stock is owned by the employees. ESOPs are federally governed, defined contribution plans. More info here: National Center for Employee Ownership.

When Zachary’s founders, Zach Zachowski and Barbara Gabel, decided it was time to retire, instead of selling to a third party buyer or (gasp!) dissolving our beloved restaurants, they sold the company to the employees. Little by little, the Zachary’s crew bought more and more of the company until we became officially 100% employee owned in 2010.

A group of people seated in a classroom, attentively facing the front. The room is filled, with a variety of individuals of different ages. A whiteboard is visible in the background. The atmosphere appears to be focused and engaged.To kick off employee ownership month, we hosted our Annual ESOP Meetings. This is a chance for our whole crew to get together to learn about our business and learn about the ESOP. In the photo on the left, employee owners eagerly await the start of the meeting… and the unveiling of Zachary’s 2016 share value!

ZACHARY’S IN THE WOODS

Five people wearing sunglasses pose for a selfie on a sunny day during a hike. They are smiling, with trees and a dirt path visible in the background. One person has their arms raised in excitement.One of the many things that makes Zachary’s a special place to work is that we are an ESOP. This means that all of the employees at Zachary’s own all of the stock in the company. See more information about Zachary’s here and ESOPs in general here.

TPeople walking on a sunlit dirt path through a forest, surrounded by lush greenery. Shadows are cast by sunlight streaming through the trees, creating a peaceful, natural atmosphere.his year, the ESOP Committee has a theme – Fit and Clean 2017! Our first event was a yoga class at Zachary’s (check it out!). Our second event was a hike at Redwood Regional!

Regional Manager and ESOP Committee member Kate Erickson bravely and excitedly choose the path (East Ridge Trail!) and led a group employee owners. Fun! We will have many more Fit and Clean adventures to share in 2017, so stay tuned!

YOGA AT ZACHARY’S

A group of people practicing yoga indoors, standing in the tree pose on yoga mats. They are smiling, balancing on one leg, with hands in prayer position. The room has bright lights and artwork on the walls.Big news! The first ever Zachary’s yoga class took place on Thursday, January 5th and it was AMAZING!

Zachary’s is an employee owned company (read more here: https://zacharys.com/about-us/our-people/) via our ESOP. We have a committee of dedicated employee owners who work to educate the crew about the ESOP itself and the benefits and responsibilities of being an employee owner. This year, the ESOP Committee decided to focus their efforts on a theme: Fit and Clean 2017. To kick off the year, Zachary’s hosted a yoga class, right here at our College Avenue location in Oakland, CA.

The fantastic and fun, Molly Pearson, agreed to lead the way. Amidst the cacophony that is an early morning at Zachary’s (think drilling, hammering, an industrial grater slicing major amounts of mozzarella, trucks delivering loads of produce, flour, pizza boxes and more, the whirring of the Hobart, the playful banter of the morning crew… you get the picture), a brave bunch of employee owners donned their yoga gear and stretched and twisted and Warriored together.

Though peaceful it was not, the morning was certainly full of beauty and joy. Yoga, pizza and some pretty fabulous employee owners made for a special start to another day at Zachary’s.

HAPPY NATIONAL EMPLOYEE OWNER MONTH!

Two people stand smiling next to a uniquely styled wooden holiday tree adorned with photos. Behind the tree, large green letters spell ESOP. The background features a decorative tapestry and photos displayed on a wall.October is National Employee Owner month! Woo-hoo! We kicked off the month by sending two of our fantastic employee owners, Katie Leary and Tabitha King to the ESOP Association Conference in Tahoe.

Tabitha and Katie came back from the conference filled with ideas and employee-owner enthusiasm. Here are some of their highlights from the conference:

  • Being around people who were super enthusiastic about engaging their employees and fostering the ownership mindset
  • Learning more about how an ESOP can benefit the company and individual employees
  • Getting lots of ideas for fun ESOP events and ways to engage employees in what it means to be an employee owner
  • Seeing other companies’ displays of how they celebrate their employees
  • Nerding out with fellow SF bay area ESOP members like Recology
  • Playing beginner’s poker and not knowing how to bluff
  • Getting a glowing review of Zachary’s pizza from Jackson Hardware CEO and ESOP Conference president Matthew Olson

Two smiling individuals wearing name tags, one pointing at the others tag. They are seated indoors at a table, with other patrons visible in the background. Warm lighting and casual attire suggest a social or networking event.As you can see, Tabitha and Katie stayed busy, learned a lot and had some fun. We are so excited that they were able to attend the conference and come back with so much to share!

JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 10th ANNIVERSARY IN SAN RAMON!

TUES 9/13 WE CELEBRATE 10 YEARS IN SAN RAMON! Please join us!

$1 PINTS (ONE DOLLAR = BEER!)
$20.06 AWARD-WINNING LARGE STUFFED SPINACH & MUSHROOM PIZZA
$10.00 LARGE THIN CHEESE PIZZA
FREE LIMITED EDITION TSHIRT WITH PURCHASE OVER $50 OR MORE
LIVE MUSIC AT NIGHT The Lost Weekend
FUN FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS!

Dine-in or take-out ($1 beer not available for take-out)
Come for lunch or dinner – MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW – SPACE IS LIMITED 925.244.1222

3110 Crow Canyon Place, San Ramon

Yellow flyer for Zacharys Pizzas 10th anniversary in San Ramon on 9/13. Offers include $20.06 large stuffed pizza, $10 large thin cheese, $1 beer pints, free T-shirt for orders over $50, live music, and family activities. Call 925-244-1222 to reserve.

 

 

A slice of Chicago-style deep-dish pizza being lifted from a metal tray. The pizza has a thick crust, topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese, and visible layers of vegetables and toppings. Strings of cheese stretch from the slice.

VISIT CALIFORNIA AND CALIFORNIA DREAM EATER COME TO ZACHARY’S!

We’re super pumped about being featured in this video from Visit California (California Travel & Tourism Commission) and California Dream Eater! CHECK IT OUT – click on image or HERE!

Two people sit at a table in a restaurant, smiling and talking. The person on the left wears a black shirt, and the person on the right wears glasses and a jacket. A banner at the bottom reads Now taking orders @CaliforniaDreamEater #DreamEats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZACHARY’S SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO CONTEST!

Illustration of a woman with long, dark hair, wearing a striped shirt, daydreaming about pizza. A thought bubble above her head holds an image of a pizza slice with the text Zacharys.Colorful drawing of four people in aprons, smiling and holding a large pepperoni pizza. The text above and below reads Zacharys Chicago Pizza in bold, colorful letters.Guess what? It’s National Employee Ownership Month AND National Pizza Month! Since these are OBVIOUSLY two of our very favorite things, we thought we should share the love with you, our awesome customers.

 

We are hosting a photo contest for the rest of the month! The winner gets free Zachary’s (duh) pizza, a T-shirt and our endless adoration! You can enter on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. It’s easy to participate; post your favorite/funniest/cheesiest (hehe) picture and use the hashtag #zacharysphotocontest2015.

 

At the end of the month, we will choose one winner each from Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, celebrate you on social media and send you some pizza love! You can enter as many times as you’d like on any and all sites!

Rules:

Two cartoon figures stand on steps, one holding a pizza box. A dog jumps nearby, while another small dog watches. A framed sign reads Zacharys Chicago Pizza. A hand holds a phone capturing the scene. Speech bubble exclaims, Zacharys!.

  1. You must use #zacharysphotocontest2015 when posting your pic. We won’t be able to see your picture if you don’t include the hashtag! If you want to keep your profile private, direct message us your submission.
  2. You must include pizza in the picture (people, our storefronts, restaurant interiors, animals, etc. are optional)!
  3. You must post by midnight on 10/31/15!

Message us if you have any questions. We will notify winners by 11/7/15. We can’t wait to see your pictures!

NEW PIZZA SPECIAL: ARIA’S ENCHI-HOLLA ENCHILADA PIZZA

A person holding a pizza topped with a spiral of sauce and cheese, sitting in a restaurant with colorful artwork on red walls. Theyre smiling and wearing a striped shirt.The results of the Zachary’s Employee Owner Pizza Contest are in! And lucky for you, we will be featuring several winning pizzas on our menu so you can try all of the delicious results!

First up… Aria’s Enchi-Holla Enchilada Pizza! Aria won in both the “Best Pizza” A woman in a green top points excitedly at a chalkboard menu above her. The board features various pizza options and highlights a special Enchilada Pizza. Zacharys brand pizza trays decorate the wall in the background.and the “Most Creative Pizza” categories (HOLLA!). Aria has worked with Zachary’s for 15 years and has been a part of the management team for most of that time. She got her inspiration for this tasty pizza from her love for enchiladas (specifically she really loves green enchilada sauce) and pizza. Why not put the two together? You will certainly be glad that she did when you try the Enchi-Holla pizza.

The pizza has our free range chicken breast marinated inA pizza topped with black olives, chips, and a spiral drizzle of white sauce sits on a wooden table. Next to it is a small vase with a red and yellow flower. Bright red wall art in the background. a green enchilada sauce, corn, black olives, cilantro, and jack and cheddar cheese. When the thin version comes A person with a joyful expression holds a large deep-dish pizza topped with a spiral pattern of black olives, cheese, and sauce. The background features red walls with colorful artwork. The person is wearing a striped shirt.out of the oven, we put some crunchy corn tortilla chips right on top. The stuffed pizza has a layer of corn tortillas inside. Both pizzas are topped off with a cool swirl of sour cream. Yum! Try the Enchi-Holla pizza on your next visit to Zachary’s!

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: QUIA’S STORY

This October, Zachary’s is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer has touched the lives of many of our crew members, one of whom is Quia White. Quia has been a dedicated Zachary’s employee-owner for over 10 years. She is a true inspiration.

A person wearing a pink T-shirt with a breast cancer awareness ribbon logo stands smiling in a restaurant with red walls and artwork. They have short hair and are wearing a floral-patterned skirt. Tables with plates and condiments are in the background.Hello my name is Quia White, I fought Breast Cancer, and won. Here’s my story:

At age 24 I discovered a lump on my breast. I was scared beyond belief and immediately called the 24hr nurse hotline. The nurse calmly told me to relax, to check my breast two weeks later, and if the lump was still there to contact my doctor. I desperately wanted the lump to disappear, and for some reason it never occurred to me that this could be breast cancer. So I contacted my doctor and we were all in agreement, there was a lump, and something should be done. My first ultra sound shockingly came back negative for any abnormal growth, and I remember being happy in an uncomfortable way.

I thought to myself, the lump is there, this doesn’t make sense. I wasn’t quite sure what action to take next. My family was happy and content with the negative results, I however still had the burden of this lump on my body, and was not content with the results. So I waited as long as I could. Eight months later I went back to my doctor,  went through the same exact process as before, except this time I received a diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ—noninvasive breast cancer. I went from scared beyond belief into complete melt down mode, I was in utter disbelief. After the smoke cleared and the dust settled, I came to terms with my reality: 1) mastectomy, and 2) four months of chemotherapy! Life has been forever altered by my scrimmage with breast cancer. The one thing I learned is you have to fight for yourself, because no one else can or will.  I am happy to be 5 years cancer free, and look forward to another 5 years!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month which reminds me that having breast cancer does not have to be a solo endeavor. With the support of family, friends, doctors, and various other groups the plight of having breast cancer can be alleviated drastically.  Many organizations are dedicated to research and finding the underlying root cause of breast cancer, which is no small task. There are some major strides being made in breast cancer research that should be acknowledged and applauded. However, let us not forget the many women who have lost their fight against this disease, and who did not reap the rewards of modern day advances. As a society we can continue this scientific progressiveness, which could one day cure all cancers!Woman wearing a bright pink Zacharys Chicago Pizza t-shirt, smiling and looking over her shoulder, stands in a restaurant with red and white walls adorned with pizza-themed posters.

Please help Zachary’s support breast cancer research and awareness. During October, we are selling pink Zachary’s t-shirts and baseball caps. These item are available at all four locations and on our website: https://zacharys.com/gifts-swag/

All profits from the sales will go to the American Cancer Society.

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