Hakki Akdeniz: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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[[File:Hakki_Akdeniz2.jpg|thumb|right|''Hakki Akdeniz, building pizza'']] |
[[File:Hakki_Akdeniz2.jpg|thumb|right|''Hakki Akdeniz, building pizza'']] |
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Akdeniz was born in 1984 in Turkey to a large family with sixteen other children.<ref name=":2" /> He worked in pizzerias there before moving to [[Montreal|Montreal, Canada]] in 1997, working at his brother's pizzeria |
Akdeniz was born in 1984 in [[Turkey]] to a large family with sixteen other children.<ref name=":2" /> He worked in pizzerias there before moving to [[Montreal|Montreal, Canada]] in 1997, working at his brother's pizzeria. In 2001, he moved to [[New York City|New York]], planning to live with a friend, but became homeless when that arrangement fell through.<ref name="voanews">{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Anna |date=December 22, 2019 |title=From Homeless to Millionaire: The Story of a Kurdish Pizza |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/episode_homeless-millionaire-story-kurdish-pizza-king-4129346/6106680.html |access-date=July 2, 2022 |work=[[Voice of America]]}}</ref> He slept in a cheap hotel, a train station, and in the [[The Bowery Mission|Bowery Mission]] shelter.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="voanews" /> He found work at another pizzeria in [[Hoboken, New Jersey]], where he worked until saving enough money to open his own restaurant.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Nina |date=2023-04-28 |title=Is It T.M.I. for Entrepreneurs to Air Their Private Business? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/business/small-business-owners-champion-pizza-rethink-ice-cream.html |access-date=2024-05-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2010 he started his first pizza shop in lower [[Manhattan]].<ref name=":1" /> |
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For years, Akdeniz entered pizzamaking competitions, and in late 2010 he won the New York Pizza Showcase, performing tricks like spinning dough while it was on fire.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-24 |title=Meet The Team: Hakki Akdeniz |url=https://www.pmq.com/meet-the-team-hakki-akdeniz/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=PMQ Pizza |language=en-US}}</ref> According to [[The New York Times|''The New York Times'']], "he became something of a pizza celebrity, known for his flashy acrobatics in tossing and twirling dough, flaming or otherwise, and for building giant pizzas."<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Michael |date=October 11, 2019 |title='I Know the Struggle': Why a Pizza Mogul Left Pies at Memorials to 4 Homeless Men |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/nyregion/homeless-murders-nyc-hakki-akdeniz.html |access-date=July 2, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He continues to donate pizza to homeless groups, including the Bowery Mission, on a regular basis.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Romine |first=Taylor |date=October 14, 2019 |title=He used to be homeless. Now, he's trying to support the New York homeless community after a crisis |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/11/us/pizza-guy-homeless-chinatown-trnd/index.html |access-date=July 2, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> |
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== Champion Pizza == |
== Champion Pizza == |
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Akdeniz opened his first pizzeria on [[Essex Street]] in Lower Manhattan in 2010 |
Akdeniz opened his first pizzeria on [[Essex Street]] in Lower Manhattan in 2010.<ref name=":2" /> The business struggled until he won the 2010 New York Pizza Showcase, receiving press attention. The nickname he received became the name of the pizzeria, Champion Pizza.<ref name="voanews" /> By 2024, there were 15 locations.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Krawitz |first=Alan |date=2024-04-20 |title=Champion Pizza: From Zero To Success – Hakki Akdeniz’ American Dream |url=https://www.longislandpress.com/2024/04/20/champion-pizza-042024/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.longislandpress.com |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2024, locations are concentrated in New York City but include stores in Texas and Florida. |
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The pizza uses a thin crust and a variety of toppings, and is sold both through the pizzerias and frozen at retailers.<ref name=":2" /> |
The pizza uses a thin crust and a variety of toppings, and is sold both through the pizzerias and frozen at retailers.<ref name=":2" /> |
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Revision as of 01:15, 23 June 2024
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (November 2022) |
Hakki Akdeniz | |
|---|---|
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| Born | February 1, 1984 |
| Occupation(s) | Restaurateur, pizza chef |
Hakki Akdeniz (born February 1, 1984) is an American restaurateur. He is owner and founder of the pizzeria chain Champion Pizza in New York City.
Biography
Akdeniz was born in 1984 in Turkey to a large family with sixteen other children.[1] He worked in pizzerias there before moving to Montreal, Canada in 1997, working at his brother's pizzeria. In 2001, he moved to New York, planning to live with a friend, but became homeless when that arrangement fell through.[2] He slept in a cheap hotel, a train station, and in the Bowery Mission shelter.[1][2] He found work at another pizzeria in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he worked until saving enough money to open his own restaurant.[3] In 2010 he started his first pizza shop in lower Manhattan.[4]
For years, Akdeniz entered pizzamaking competitions, and in late 2010 he won the New York Pizza Showcase, performing tricks like spinning dough while it was on fire.[1][5] According to The New York Times, "he became something of a pizza celebrity, known for his flashy acrobatics in tossing and twirling dough, flaming or otherwise, and for building giant pizzas."[6] He continues to donate pizza to homeless groups, including the Bowery Mission, on a regular basis.[4][1]
Champion Pizza
Akdeniz opened his first pizzeria on Essex Street in Lower Manhattan in 2010.[1] The business struggled until he won the 2010 New York Pizza Showcase, receiving press attention. The nickname he received became the name of the pizzeria, Champion Pizza.[2] By 2024, there were 15 locations.[1] As of 2024, locations are concentrated in New York City but include stores in Texas and Florida.
The pizza uses a thin crust and a variety of toppings, and is sold both through the pizzerias and frozen at retailers.[1]
Awards and honors
In 2019, he received twelve awards during the Beacon Awards ceremony, co-hosted by the Ellis Island Honor Society.[7] His February 2022 TED talk at Rutgers University, entitled "Homeless Not Hopeless", has received over two million views as of June 2024.[8]
In 2022, an honoree by the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrant Award.[9][10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Krawitz, Alan (2024-04-20). "Champion Pizza: From Zero To Success – Hakki Akdeniz' American Dream". www.longislandpress.com. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ a b c Nelson, Anna (December 22, 2019). "From Homeless to Millionaire: The Story of a Kurdish Pizza". Voice of America. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ Roberts, Nina (2023-04-28). "Is It T.M.I. for Entrepreneurs to Air Their Private Business?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ a b Romine, Taylor (October 14, 2019). "He used to be homeless. Now, he's trying to support the New York homeless community after a crisis". CNN. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "Meet The Team: Hakki Akdeniz". PMQ Pizza. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Wilson, Michael (October 11, 2019). "'I Know the Struggle': Why a Pizza Mogul Left Pies at Memorials to 4 Homeless Men". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ Yuruk, Betul (November 1, 2019). "US: Turkish pizza maker awarded for immigration success". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ Akdeniz, Hakki (2022-05-31). Homeless But Not Hopeless. Retrieved 2024-05-18 – via www.ted.com.
- ^ "Hakki Akdeniz". Carnegie Corporation of New York. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ "Carnegie Corporation of New York Honors 34 Distinguished Immigrants Whose Contributions to Our Democracy Inspire Us All". Carnegie Corporation of New York. Retrieved June 18, 2024.