Paul Hibler Founder and CEO of Pitfire Artisan Pizza

Paul Hibler sees restaurants as so much more than food on a plate. Instead, he has made a career out of creating community-focused gathering places. From ingredients to chefs, service, décor, and ambiance, Hibler conceptualizes comfortable, but unforgettable dining experiences. Nearly 25 years ago, Hibler started his food service career as co-founder of Deluxe Catering with business partner, David Sanfield. With a home base in Los Angeles, their company was focused on feeding motion picture crews. They catered meals for over 300 film sets around the world, with heavy hitters like Steven Spielberg and James Cameron eating their food during takes. When Deluxe Catering launched its private event division in 1994, A-list clientele like Bill Clinton were instantly hooked. Soon after launching their private event business, Hibler began exploring his interest in making pizza and set his sights on opening a casual eatery. Together with Sanfield, they launched Pitfire Pizza in North Hollywood in 1997. Hibler wanted to offer artisan pizza in laidback, beautifully built spaces. His attention to detail and open concept design coupled with quality pizza garnered a loyal following. Today, Pitfire Pizza has seven locations in Los Angeles and Orange County. True to form, each restaurant is uniquely designed to showcase up-and-coming talent while paying tribute to the original concept and brand.