Pizza X

   Overview

• When Pizza X first opened the owners were in living in Wright Quad.

• Pizza X's original location is at East 10th Street.

•  Pizza X was originally called Pizza Xpress

• Pizza X has partnered with Chocolate Moose, Jiffy Treat, and Heartzel's

HISTORY 

Pizza X was founded in August 1982 by Jeff Mease and Lennie Busch. They were a married couple who both had a dream of opening a restaurant. They later broke up but they are still business partners. Pizza X's original name was Pizza eXpress but they later shortened it to Pizza X. 

At the time when Pizza X first opened, Mease and Busch were students who lived in Wright Quad. At the time, Jeff was 19 years old and worked for Domino's as a delivery driver. They wanted to start an original business that made fresh homemade pizza because the founders believed that while the frozen and preserved ingredients in Papa Johns, Dominos, ect. were good, they thought theirs could be better and be more locally involved. 

Eventually, their dream became reality as they opened their first Pizza X building on East 10th street. It was an immediate hit and a favorite to many college kids due to how close it was to IU. Ever since Pizza X’s opening their growing popularity has proven their idea.  

ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

Pizza X is a big part of Bloomington. They are very popular with students because of how fast they are. Because of this, after they opened, they had become a massive hit. Because of their success, other businesses showed interest in them like Chocolate Moose, Hartzell's, and Jiffy Treat. They all wanted to sell their products in Pizza X. Pizza X accepted these partnerships and now serves ice cream in their restaurant. 

Pizza X is also partnered with One World Enterprises, which is owned by Jeff Mease and Lennie Busch. One World Commissary comes in the morning to prepare the veggies and meats, this ensures you get fresh toppings for your delicious pizza. Later on they started something called One World Kitchen Share. It allows people to rent a professional kitchen and materials. Jeff and Lennie say that they want to help people get into the food business like they did. They also Started a Dine-and-Donate program called "Xtend-a-Hand" -- they give local charities money by donating 20% of their purchases to the charity if the organization is identified during the order 

Pizza X is a pretty local business, They have multiple locations in Bloomington, along with locations in Indianapolis and Ellettsville. Now let's talk about the pizza they sell. Pizza X has weekly pizzas, along with their specialty pizza, THE SAUCY ROOSTER. The Saucy Rooster is a pizza with barbecue sauce, chicken, onions, and a cheese blend. Pizza X offers a lot to the community and also has a lot of history. Pizza X is a Bloomington staple.

WORKS CITED

1. Pizza X History: Bloomington, Indiana’s Local Pizza since 1982.” Pizza X, www.pizzaxbloomington.com/our-history. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025. 

2. Pizza X Office Lunch Deals and Catering in Bloomington — Pizza X." Pizza X Bloomington, https://www.pizzaxbloomington.com/lunch#:~:text=Pizza%20X%20Office%20Lunch%20Deals,Catering%20in%20Bloomington%20%E2%80%94%20Pizza%20X. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.

3. . Pizza X Bloomington. https://www.pizzaxbloomington.com/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.

4. Pizza X and One World Commissary.” Pizza X Bloomington, https://www.pizzaxbloomington.com/blog/pizza-x-and-one-world-commissary. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025

5. Xtend a Hand." Pizza X Bloomington, https://www.pizzaxbloomington.com/xtend-a-hand. Accessed 4 Dec 2025