News

Chicago Pizza considers change to company's official name

April 28, 2004

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—Chicago Pizza & Brewery, operator of 30-unit restaurant-brewpub concept BJ's Restaurant Brewery, likely will change its official name to better reflect the name of its operations.

According to Restaurant Business, the company will propose the new corporate name, BJ's Restaurants, during its annual meeting in May. If approved, its ticker symbol would change from CHGO to BJRI.

Since the company's locations currently bear the BJ's name, changes to signage won't be needed.

"The company and its directors believe that having a corporate business name that's similar to that of its restaurants' names is in the best interests of our customers, vendors, employees, shareholders and Wall Street," co-CEO Paul Motenko told analysts in an April 27 conference call.

Chicago Pizza's restaurants have seen their share of name changes as well. Among them: BJ's Chicago Pizzeria, BJ's Pizza & Grill, BJ's Pizza, Grill & Brewery, and the current BJ's Restaurant Brewery.

The company's menu has broadened considerably over time, though its core product remains Chicago-style pizza and accounts for some 30 percent of its food sales.