The Original Pizza Chief

The Original Pizza Chief, Serving the Ventura Community Since 1976!

Laura K.

Louis V.

Anthony L.

Andrea S.

Jay R.

Aimee F. 

We invest in quality ingredients to ensure our customers get the great taste we're famous for. Because we believe that you deserve the best.  All of sauces, Pesto, Dough and Cookies are made Fresh just to name a few!

Our secret ingredient is passion. We have been a Community favorite since 1976!  Everyone on our team is passionate about making your time with us a great food and family experience! — from start to finish.

Love, Mark + Robert + Annie + Max

The Original Pizza Chief opened its doors in 1976 on East Main Street (corner of McMillian and Main Street) in Ventura, CA.  A true Pizza shack, The OG has been churning out Ventura’s favorite Pizza for over 4 decades.

Robert Schwartz, was just 16 years old in 1976, had just got his driver’s license and applied to become a delivery driver at the new pizzeria.  Robert was born and raised in Ventura and was a born entrepreneur.  With a love for business and Pizza, Robert worked every night, went to school every day, and had a plan to go to USC business school once he graduated high school, The owner was impressed by Robert’s work ethic passion, and determination, along his love for growing business, that he offered Robert an opportunity to receive a percentage of the business if he stayed and ran the pizzeria instead of going right to USC after high school!  Robert, at the dismay of his mom, decided to put off USC for a year, and expand the Pizza Chief brand with the owner.  They went on to open 20 plus pizzerias in Ventura and the San Fernando Valley.   Day to day life of a restaurant owner and the pressure to go to college, Robert eventually sold his interest in the business and went to the Business school at USC.  But The Original Pizza Chief kept going.  Mark Kenyon, who Robert had hired back in the early 1980’s purchased the Pizzeria from the other owner, and Mark has run the original location ever since.  Over the last 40 plus years, The OG has become a treasure in Ventura.  Not only is it loved by its Ventura community, but its reputation also has a wide net of followers from tourists to other communities surrounding Ventura.  People commute daily to get their favorite Pizza and Mark’s “old school” style of making the perfect pie is enhanced by his secret ingredient in the dough…Mark uses Ojai honey rather than sugar in the recipe, he also has and continues to make all the items on the menu fresh daily.  For over forty years, the quality of the food does not disappoint, and that quality has built and continues to build raving fans every day!  In April 2022, Robert moved back to Ventura with his wife, Annie, after living in the Santa Clarita Valley for over 30 years.  He is a mortgage lender with Guaranteed Rate, and his wife is not only a realtor, but she opened a small women’s clothing boutique in the new Portside Ventura Harbor called Annie’s Portside.  After moving to Ventura, Robert ordered Pizza from The OG immediately, and Mark delivered the Pizza.  The two guys began a dialogue and Robert, and Mark became partners in April 2022.  In full legacy fashion, Robert and Annie's son, Max, is continuing the legacy by assisting Mark in the business!  Max is a manager and assisting Mark in the daily running and growth of the business.  The Original Pizza Chief is a treasure in Ventura, and we are so excited that since 1976, we are still Ventura's favorite Pizza!  


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The Original Pizza Chief opened doors in 1976 on East Main Street in Ventura, CA.  Robert Schwartz, who was only 16 years old at the time, was hired first as a delivery driver, then became a business partner for a few years before venturing off on his own career.  Now over 30 years later, Robert is back as a business partner with co-owner, Mark Kenyon, who has delivered quality fresh food for over four decades.  together, they continue to serve the community with the same friendly service that started years ago and there passion and excellence to be Ventura's favorite Pizza and more!


Fun Fact: The Original Pizza Chief used to have an antique fire truck engine parked on location!

The Original Pizza Chief is always looking for reliable staff to be part of the team.  Email or drop by and fill out an application!

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