While a
University of Northern Colorado college student, Vince Schmuhl was a delivery driver for
Domino's Pizza. After receiving a business degree in 1981, there were few jobs available, and Schmuhl wanted to provide another option to the major pizza companies. The company headquarters, by 1999, was in what was then the
Castlewood census-designated place in
unincorporated Arapahoe County, Colorado, near
Englewood. The territory became a part of
Centennial, which incorporated in 2001 with all of the territory of the Castlewood CDP. In 1988, Blackjack became a
franchisor with the sale of several corporate stores to franchisees. Blackjack Pizza operated 45 stores in five states. Blackjack's
tagline is "Better Pizza, Better Price."
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the
high school seniors who committed the 1999
Columbine High School massacre worked at the Blackjack Pizza store in
Littleton, Colorado, and Harris eventually became shift manager. At this pizza parlor, the two teens made important acquaintances who were inadvertently connected to the attack at
Columbine High School. The two teens were able to meet Mark Manes, the man who sold them the
TEC-9 that they used in the attack, through the connection of Philip Duran, a fellow employee at the Blackjack Pizza store where they worked.
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Rod Smith frequently appeared in Blackjack commercials until October 2008 when Blackjack rolled out a new ad campaign featuring the cast of
Impulse Theater. Smith's slogan for Blackjack Pizza ads was "Stick with the home team." ==Philanthropy==