ORIGINAL RECIPE
Key Ingredients: Owners Colleen & Mike Alexander (pictured left)
Original Ingredients: Bob and Karen Crum (pictured right)
In 1970, Bob & Karen Crum converted a school bus and traveled all over the country for over a year with their kids in tow: oldest daughters Kelly and Kim, middle child Colleen, and youngest son Robert.
Colleen says, “This incredible experience of meeting all kinds of people was the foundation of my admiration and respect for the similarities and differences in individuals that make up our great nation.”
Eventually, the family settled in Crozet and, in 1977,
Bob & Karen opened Crozet Pizza.
As was their way, absolutely everything in the restaurant was handmade.
When Crozet Pizza opened, it had a mere five tables — all hand built by Bob Crum himself.
Before opening, Karen Crum perfected the same Crozet Pizza dough recipe that is still made daily. Bob even handmade every pizza that was served for 31 years, one by one.
As its popularity grew, people began to call in days ahead to order one of Crozet Pizza’s delicious pies.
All of the kids in the family worked in the restaurant, learning the family business, until they each went off to college.
All the while, Crozet Pizza’s popularity kept growing.
In 2002, Colleen and her husband Mike Alexander decided to continue the family legacy, and changed careers to take over from her parents.
Since then, they expanded the space, expanded the menu, and grew Crozet Pizza to become the live music and events space it is known as today, as well as a community staple in the heart of Crozet.
And wouldn’t you know - their three daughters also grew up working in the restaurant!
In 2014, Mike & Colleen opened Crozet Pizza at Buddhist Biker Bar in Charlottesville’s bustling Corner neighborhood, and ultimately sold it to longtime employee Jordan Brunk.
And while you no longer have to order days in advance, Bob and Karen’s kids still serve the same great pies that Crozet Pizza has been known for since 1977.