- The first California Pizza Kitchen opened in 1985 on South Beverly Drive, with actress Shirley MacLaine as its first customer.
- After growing to over 200 locations worldwide, the company was acquired by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital in 2011 for $470 million.
- CPK filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 30, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- California Pizza Kitchen emerged from bankruptcy in November 2020.
- In December 2025, New York-based Consortium Brand Partners acquired the chain for just under $300 million.
- Rosenfield expressed optimism about the new ownership, saying he is thrilled with the direction and believes the team can bring the brand to new glory.
- Rosenfield recalled the restaurant's early days in Beverly Hills as hectic, with the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza drawing crowds.
- CPK helped popularize California-style pizza and expanded to more than 120 restaurants in 10 countries, with a strategy of locating in upscale shopping malls.
- Rosenfield stated that the previous ownership damaged the culture he and Flax had built, leading to a decline that ultimately resulted in bankruptcy.
Rick Rosenfield, co-founder of California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), reminisced about the chain's rise from its 1985 opening to its bankruptcy in 2020, attributing the decline to mismanagement by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.12467
"I believe that they damaged the culture from day one," he stated, reflecting on the challenges faced during the pandemic.9
CPK, known for its innovative barbecue chicken pizza, emerged from bankruptcy in November 2020.
In December 2025, the chain was acquired by Consortium Brand Partners for nearly $300 million.5
Rosenfield expressed optimism about the new ownership, stating, "I am thrilled with the direction and believe the team can bring the brand to new glory." He and co-founder Larry Flax are excited about the future for the first time in years, as they hope to restore the brand's legacy of popularizing California-style pizza and upscale dining in shopping malls.8
CPK's journey reflects the challenges of the restaurant industry, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with new leadership, Rosenfield believes the brand can reclaim its status in the culinary world.3
“Rosenfield, who left a law career as a federal prosecutor, opened the first CPK in 1985 with Shirley MacLaine as its first customer. He credits the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza for the early 'craziness' and says he still dines at CPK every few weeks, confident in the new team.”
Fox Business
