When Chris Fox injured his shoulder and couldn’t work, he had a lot of time to think. He decided what he wanted to do was open a business to give him more freedom, as well as a place for this three daughters, now 9, 2 and 8 months, to work when they got older.
Fox began researching businesses. During his research, he came across a pizza franchise operation based in Boulder, Colo., that was ranked among the top 50 franchise opportunities in the country. The pizza place, called Nick-N-Willy’s, proclaims itself the healthiest, freshest pizza around.
Fox contacted Nick-N-Willy’s with few intentions other than getting information. When he heard more, he discovered where his calling lay.
“I thought, ‘This is what I want to do,’” Fox recalled. He began looking for locations. It took him seven months to find a place, but he finally settled on a location in Proctor District at the advice of a co-worker.
“The area, the community, just absolutely embraces small, unique businesses,” Fox remarked.
He and his father, who works for the State of Washington, attended a three-week training session in Boulder.
Fox opened his Nick-N-Willy’s restaurant Sept. 17. He said the biggest challenges so far have been the first week, getting employees trained, and fixing and finishing little things along the way.
“I had no idea it would be this hard,” he said, but added the restaurant is beginning to run more smoothly now. “This week’s a little easier.”
Fox’s Nick-N-Willy’s offers a full menu of gourmet pizza selections, including vegetarian options, as well as a full list of toppings to choose from. The restaurant also offers calzones, gourmet salads, garlic bread and desserts.
The dough is made from scratch every morning. The toppings are fresh and never frozen, and are prepared in the morning as well, Fox said.
Fox said he hopes to get his liquor license soon so he can begin selling microbrews by the bottle. He would also like to add a large-screen television, music and, for next summer, sidewalk seating.
The restaurant offers dine-in and take-and-bake options.
Fox is offering a lunch special of a bistro-sized pizza and a drink for $5.49. He is also offering an after-school special of a one-topping personal pizza and drink for $3.99.
In the future, Fox said he would like to open more Nick-N-Willy’s locations in the area – his goal is to open five or six in the next 10 years.
“I just really want it to be a family atmosphere and eventually get my kids in here to work with me,” Fox concluded.