California Pizza Kitchen entering Canada

A California-inspired eatery is planning to expand up north.

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has broken ground to open its first outpost in Canada. Located at Currents of Windermere shopping center in Edmonton, Alberta, the new CPK will feature 4,500 sq. ft. of indoor space and a 1,800-sq.-ft. enclosed, heated patio.

The Alberta restaurant is the first of many California Pizza Kitchen locations planned in the Alberta province during the next eight years. The company also has plans to open restaurants in additional markets throughout Canada, including Vancouver and Toronto. 

“Expanding our franchise operations now beyond the U.S. is a top priority for CPK and affirms our broader strategy for long term growth in our international markets,” said Giorgio Minardi, executive VP of global development & franchise operations, California Pizza Kitchen,“While Alberta will be the first province to see the CPK brand open a restaurant, we look forward to selecting the right franchisees to bring our ‘California Creativity’ to other provinces in Canada.”

California Pizza Kitchen, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2020 as part of a restructuring effort, has more than 240 restaurants in 10 countries and U.S. territories.