Bene has mile-high pizza plan.Byline: Joe Mosley The Register-Guard CORRECTION (ran 2/23/2005): The first Bene Gourmet Pizza outlet opened in Eugene in March 2000, at 225 W. Broadway. A story on B1 Tuesday included an incorrect date. A slice of Eugene will be exported to Colorado next month, when Bene Gourmet Pizza expands to the Denver area and opens the first of three outlets planned for the mile-high city. The Eugene-based company has three local outlets, and considered other Oregon Oregon, city, United States Oregon, city (1990 pop. 18,334), Lucas co., NW Ohio, a suburb adjacent to Toledo, on Lake Erie; inc. 1958. It is a port with railroad-owned and -operated docks. The city has industries producing oil, chemicals, and metal products. locations and the Seattle area before settling on Denver for its first venture outside Lane County, Bene president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Kevin Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. said Monday. "We are kind of a niche concept; we serve full-priced pizzas and salads," Cohen said. "There is only a certain demographic that is our true customer. Denver had the best combination of demographics The attributes of people in a particular geographic area. Used for marketing purposes, population, ethnic origins, religion, spoken language, income and age range are examples of demographic data. and real estate options for us." The Bene menu is priced similarly to those of other high-end pizza restaurants in the Eugene area, Cohen said. But his company does not discount its pizzas with coupons or other special offers, and does not attempt to compete with high-volume chains. Bene offers 22 pizzas - eight of them vegetarian vegetarian /veg·e·tar·i·an/ (vej?e-tar´e-an) 1. one who practices vegetarianism. 2. pertaining to vegetarianism. veg·e·tar·i·an n. One who practices vegetarianism. - along with nine salads. Besides its pizzas, the restaurant is perhaps best-known for its made-to-order Caesar salads caesar salad n. A tossed salad of greens, anchovies, croutons, and grated cheese with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and a raw or coddled egg. . Cohen and his wife, Erika, opened their first Bene Gourmet Pizza at 225 W. Broadway in March 2005. Their second outlet, at the Oakway Center, opened in September 2001. Their third, at 2566 Willamette St., followed in March 2003. For the expansion into Denver, the Cohens have received funding from current investors as well as a business loan from Eugene-based Liberty Bank. "We're funded for three stores in that (Denver) market, which we anticipate doing in the next year to year-and-a-half," Cohen said. "Beyond that, we don't have any specific plans, but we would like to continue to grow." Bene has more than 30 employees at its Eugene locations, and another 10 to 15 full- and part-time positions are expected at its initial Denver-area outlet, in Greenwood Greenwood. 1 City (1990 pop. 26,265), Johnson co., central Ind.; settled 1822, inc. as a city 1960. A residential suburb of Indianapolis, Greenwood is in a retail shopping area. Manufactures include motor vehicle parts and metal products. Village. Two managers from Bene's Eugene outlets are relocating to Denver, to help run the new restaurants, Cohen said. The Bene Web site is www.benegourmet.com. |
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