Wednesday, February 22, 2012

When Troy VanVelson moved to Corcoran to take over the Pizza Factory in 1998, he committed to the new venture wholeheartedly, typically working 100 hours a week. Now, 13 years later and with a family to consider, he no longer lives at the restaurant, but there is seldom a day that goes by that VanVelson can’t be found at his downtown establishment.

 

The Pizza Factory got its start in Oakhurst in 1979, and has grown into a franchise with 120 restaurants in five western states. VanVelson, who grew up in Oakhurst, had his first job with the Pizza Factory there at the age of 14. Little did he know during those days as a dishwasher that he was getting a little glimpse into his future.

 

After high school, VanVelson went to UC Santa Barbara, where he majored in computer science. While attending classes, he worked in the restaurant business, working his way up to manager. Upon finishing college and getting a computer science job, he quickly realized that he hated the computer science industry.

 

Meanwhile, VanVelson received a call from Danny Wheeler, one of the co-owners of the Pizza Factory franchise, whom he knew from his childhood in Oakhurst, and, of course, his first job. Wheeler told him that the owner of the Corcoran Pizza Factory wanted to retire, and asked if he might be interested in taking it over.

 

VanVelson traded the beaches of Southern California for the fields of the Central Valley, taking out a bank loan for the down payment he made to Roger Gange, who had owned the Pizza Factory for 10 years.

 

For the first two years as a new business owner, VanVelson did little else outside of work.

 

“I probably worked a hundred hours a week when I first started,” he said. “For the first two years, no one besides me even had a key.”

 

But two years after taking over the business, VanVelson reconnected with his college girlfriend from Santa Barbara. The couple married, and now has two daughters, 7-year-old Bailey and 4-year-old Grace. Starting a family prompted VanVelson to spend more time away from work and to get more involved in the community.

 

“The biggest challenge in the beginning was getting out in the community because I was afraid to leave the restaurant,” he said.

 

But being a successful local business owner required getting to know the people that supported him.

 

“In a small town, you have to be community oriented,” he said.

 

In the past decade, he has been involved in the Rotary Club, YMCA, the planning commission, and the Little League board, as well as sponsoring and coaching local sports teams.

 

And that is not the only way VanVelson gives back. He has had children as young as 9 years old show up in need of a hot meal when their parents couldn’t afford to feed them. Wanting to help, he began a tradition of letting these children fold pizza boxes in exchange for a pizza to take home to their families. Once word of his generosity got out, he said he had more children wanting to work than boxes he had to fold.   

 

VanVelson said that the success of the local farming industry directly affects his business. When farmers are having a profitable year, they spend more money eating out, driving up sales at the Pizza Factory. His decision to become a Farm Bureau member was prompted by his desire to support the farmers who have supported him over the years.

 

“I think a community is what you make it,” VanVelson said. “The best thing about Corcoran is how accepting everyone is and becoming part of the community.”

 

The Pizza Factory is located at 1117 Whitley Ave. in Corcoran, and can be contacted at 992-3148. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. In addition to a spacious dining room, a banquet room with seating for 50 is available for parties, meetings and sports banquets.

 

870 Greenfield Avenue
Hanford, CA 93230
559 584-3557
559 584-1614 (fax)

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday
8am - 4:30pm

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