SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – On August 31, 2022, the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce hosted one of their fun Ribbon-Cutting and Mixer events through the grand opening of 500F Pizza & Taphouse, serving plenty of tasty appetizers, drinks and the venue’s popular Butter Chicken Pizza.

Carmichael resident and pizza parlor owner Sandeep Saini worked in the pizza business for over 26 years, operating her Round Table franchise on 4341 Arden Way, Sacramento, Calif.

But after more than two decades of service, the Saini family, a first-generation couple who immigrated to the U.S. from India, decided to run an independent business instead when their franchise renewal was due in early 2019.

“We came to the conclusion that we wanted anything that could benefit the restaurant business and help it stay afloat,” Saini said.

“One of the biggest factors in making this transition,” said Saini, “became the ability to build a full bar and sell alcohol to attract more clients.”

Saini credits her children with much of the success the family-owned eatery has had – with her tech-savvy son, Kyle, and her supportive daughter, Gia.

Both of Sandeep’s kids grew up locally with the 28-year-old Kyle graduating from Jesuit High School in Carmichael, and her 24-year-old daughter graduating from Saint Francis High School in Sacramento.

She said her son has been especially helpful thanks to an extensive experience in world travel which has given him a keen vision in business and a successful IT consulting career to support the family business.

As many other businesses in the food industry experienced, it was not much after the time the enterprise steered into a new route, that the COVID-19 pandemic, and its shutdown, challenged the restaurant’s mode of operation.

Saini noted, “The bar during COVID-19 really supplemented the pizza offerings which we were able to provide with cocktails and beer to go.”

She publicly thanked the community for making their “survival possible through their patronage during these challenging years.”

The Office of Assemblyman Ken Cooley was represented at the celebration of Saini’s long service trajectory and business survival during COVID-19, and on behalf of the legislator, Field Representative Camille Boudreaux presented a certificate of recognition to Sandeep Saini.

Also introduced at the Chamber mixer was 2023 Carmichael Honorary Mayor candidate Kerri Mandes, of Kerri Mandes Fitness, who chose to raise funds for WEAVE through her campaign. WEAVE is an organization considered “The primary provider of crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Sacramento County.” For more information visit www.kerrimandesfitness.com or www.weaveinc.org/.

To order lunch, dinner or dine in at 500F Pizza & Taphouse visit www.500fpizza.com/