When one pizzeria closes its doors, another opens.

In late October, more than six years after it opened at 4272 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs’ first and only Hungry Howie’s Pizza location closed its doors in The Marketplace at Austin Bluffs shopping center, northwest of Academy and Austin Bluffs Parkway.

Former franchisee Brian Schmitt and his wife opened Hungry Howie’s, known for its flavored crusts, in 2018 after Schmitt retired from his previous career as an information technology professional. The couple was familiar with the Michigan-based national pizza and sandwich chain after visiting locations during vacations to Florida.

“That was my retirement job. I liked having something to do, and it was interesting and fun while I ran (the restaurant),” Schmitt said.

Hungry Howie’s has operated for 50 years and its founders began franchising locations in 1983. The chain currently has more than 530 stores in 21 states, including two in Aurora and one in Thornton, according to its website.

Several factors contributed to Schmitt’s decision to close his Colorado Springs store. Now 70 years old, Schmitt was ready to retire again. The restaurant wasn’t as profitable as he’d hoped, and the COVID-19 pandemic plus rising costs of food products, labor, building rent and insurance compounded those difficulties, he said.

“Business never really reached my expectations for that location and the franchise. … Costs went up and sales never really matched those increases, so that was another factor, too,” Schmitt said.

About a year after he placed Hungry Howie’s on an online restaurant listing service, WeSellRestaurants.com, Schmitt said he accepted an offer from Blackjack Pizza & Salads franchisees Dan and Tiffany Dettmers to purchase his business’ assets.

“It all happened by accident, but on purpose,” Tiffany Dettmers said.

The Dettmerses originally envisioned the former Hungry Howie’s space as the new location for another Blackjack Pizza shop they own in southeast Colorado Springs, at 2328 S. Academy Blvd. The couple purchased the franchise on South Academy about 18 months ago, after leaving other careers; Tiffany worked as a certified payroll specialist and Dan as a sales engineer at Cintas.

The Concentra Urgent Care facility next door was planning to expand and take over the Blackjack Pizza space on South Academy, Tiffany Dettmers said. Those plans fell through after Concentra went public on the New York Stock Exchange this summer, and the Dettmerses ultimately renewed the lease at their first Blackjack Pizza location, she said.

Since they were already under contract to open on North Academy, the couple decided to operate a second Blackjack Pizza franchise there. They officially opened their doors at 4272 N. Academy on Nov. 25 and held a grand opening celebration, complete with a live radio DJ and raffle prizes like free pizza for a year, on Saturday.

“This location, my husband keeps calling it a ‘unicorn,’” Dettmers said. “It was already a pizza place before us. We live on this side of town, and wanted to do business in the part of the community where we live. It’s also a great location, near two major roads.”

Like Hungry Howie’s before it, Blackjack Pizza offers carryout and delivery service, but no indoor seating. The restaurant serves build-your-own and specialty pizzas, calzones, pasta, sandwiches and more.

Blackjack Pizza was founded in Colorado in 1983 by former Domino’s Pizza employee Vince Schmuhl. The first store opened in June of that year in Federal Heights, in western Adams County. In 1988, Blackjack became a franchisor. Today, there are 40 locations across five states, the company website states.

For the Dettmerses, Blackjack Pizza has become their livelihood and a family affair. The couple’s two children, Landon and Olivya Dettmers, ages 18 and 13, respectively, both help operate the shops.

“We truly are a small business, mom-and-pop family shop,” Dettmers said.

Blackjack Pizza is open in The Marketplace at Austin Bluffs Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., according to its website.