California Pizza Kitchen Founder Discusses Losing Control of Company

Rick Rosenfield, who co-founded the California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) restaurant chain, has shared insights into building the company and ultimately losing control of it, as detailed in his new book, "The California Pizza Kitchen Story."

Rosenfield and his partner Larry Flax launched their first CPK restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1985, securing initial funding through personal guarantees and mortgaging their homes. They began operations without a defined menu, a management team, or a dedicated chef, quickly learning that attracting, motivating, and developing staff was critical to exceeding their initial single-location success.

A significant policy change occurred in the early 1990s when Rosenfield and Flax banned smoking in all CPK restaurants. This decision arose after a manager noted servers' reluctance to work in designated smoking sections. To Rosenfield's knowledge, CPK became the first national restaurant chain to implement a complete smoking ban, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being.

Rosenfield stated that the company's core values—Respect, Opportunity, Communication, and Kindness (ROCK)—were practiced from the outset, even before being formally codified. He emphasized that the company's early success was rooted in doing the right thing and establishing a strong company culture from its inception.