Rick Rosenfield says California Pizza Kitchen would launch as ‘Florida Pizza Kitchen’

Rick Rosenfield, co‑founder of California Pizza Kitchen, told Fox News that if he were to start the chain today he would choose Florida over California, describing the Golden State as “less business‑friendly.” He cited higher costs, new regulations, and the state’s $20‑per‑hour fast‑food minimum wage as factors that have made operating restaurants harder since the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Rosenfield, who moved to Florida in 2024, said the contrast between the two states is stark, noting “there’s less bureaucracy in Florida, and there’s more bureaucracy in California.” His remarks reflect a broader trend of companies relocating out of California, with firms such as McKesson, Charles Schwab, Oracle, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Chevron, SpaceX and X moving headquarters to Texas in recent years.

California Pizza Kitchen, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 after pandemic‑related closures, now has 185 locations, many still in California, but the brand’s image as a business‑friendly environment has eroded, according to Rosenfield.