We had the good fortune of connecting with Chef Dolores Allen aka Chef D and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dolores, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?

Yes, Build a Pizza is not another pizza place. Our biggest impact to the community will be providing healthier options for customers. We offer turkey pepperoni and turkey sausage full of Italian flavors. Everyone will have the opportunity to be creative and bring out their imagination with food art & be healthy. Socially, our goal is to bring people together for a food art experience that’s also educational. For example, Chef’s specialty pizza, The Howdy!, Texas-shaped pizza offers a social studies aspect with fun. Environmentally, our food is served with non-preservative food ingredients with fresh ingredients. Culturally, our goal is to celebrate all occasions with themes to tailor to different cultures. This includes special holidays and nationally celebrated days for everyone to be able to experience Build a Pizza. It is family entertainment where everyone can be a C.H.E.F. (Creative, Healthy, Exciting, Fun) of the Day!


What should our readers know about your business?

I created Build a Pizza in 2016 from the experience I had with my three children when they were younger. We made individual pizzas in our kitchen. I begin to create a business plan with all the details. My daughter and I brainstormed with the name, and Build a Pizza was born. I wanted my pizzas to be healthy and offer fun for the entire family. Our pizzas are freshly handmade with flavorful crusts with a healthy aspect to them.  There’s nothing like it in the market.  In addition, I created fun shapes that would make it exciting for everyone to enjoy, i.e., Texas-shaped pizza. We are the home of the Texas-shaped pizza!
In 2019, I begin to plan a large launch event for Build a Pizza scheduled for May 2020.  Our journey wasn’t an easy one, because when the pandemic occurred, my catering business, D’s Family Kitchen was at a halt, and so was the launch event. I begin to revisit my original business plan and make alterations to facilitate the current market. I was filled with fear, but determined. I begin to take bold moves and search for a location to begin Build a Pizza. I found a great location that was a ghost kitchen. It allowed my team and I to provide the pizzas and/or kits with other foods to the community. We offered delivery, and pick-up with a dine-in option. This was a perfect time to bring the product to customers to enjoy in their homes while staying safe. We had our launch event virtually on August 8, 2020.
Today, we’re in the process of building our new location at 17585 Imperial Valley Drive, Houston, TX 77060.  We are planning to  open in Winter 2021.  Build a Pizza will provide a place for people to visit and enjoy food art with my original & specialty pizzas, pizza kits, Chicago foods from my hometown, and more. We’re bringing delicious & fun pizzas with the option to have colorful cheeses with no preservatives.  I’ve learned from my journey that passion supersedes fear and dedication brings great things to life!


If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

During the pandemic, I am not visiting too many places, but I would take my best friend to the Woodlands area. I think it’s peaceful with great scenery.  However, she’s a down-home person, so she would want the best southern food and go to the hot spots. I heard Lucille’s has the best soul food, but I’ve never been there. I would take her there, so we can experience it together. I would definitely take her to my loves place, Marco’s Pepper Grill in 5th Ward to enjoy my favorite dish, Rasta Pasta. A hidden gem that’s new to the community.  We would go to Jinya Ramen Bar on another day, because I love this place.  I know she would want to go to the Turkey Leg Hut, because it’s on the place to visit in Houston. My favorite Chinese restaurant, Kung Foods off JFK would be picked up one night for dinner.

I would see if she has anything that she would like to do. Most likely, shopping at the mall, so the Galleria would be on the list. It’s always great to spend time with her, because she lives in Chicago. We would have fun doing anything, just enjoying each other and exploring!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I want to thank my girls, Normesha & Nahshona for their unconditional support! My son, Nahshon and brother, Antonio for supporting this journey.  Build a Pizza is a family business and all their hard work was instrumental in our journey!  My friends & family, Yasmine Hawkins-Keeler who gave her time and support in making my vision at every event come to life with her décor!! Tawana Cox who’s always donated her time to capture the moments with her beautiful photos at every event! Yashica Kenerson who has worked for us starting at D’s Family Kitchen and now Build a Pizza with her continuous support! Everyone with the Bilbo Duo & Team who has worked for Build a Pizza and continuously support our journey! My love, Marcus Flakes for his unconditional support that started at my first location and the place we met! Our businesses were two doors away. He ran his business, Marco’s Pepper Grill, but always offered help at Build a Pizza! He married our ingredients together and created the Jambalaya Pizza!  He helped move equipment, give me great advice, and so much more!  I love you Babes! Thank you for your support!

Our customers who purchased pizzas or other menu items during the pandemic. You could have gone anywhere, but you chose us. We greatly appreciate you giving us a try and supporting our small business.  THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Others:   My family in Chicago who roots for us!

Website: www.BuildaPizzaFun.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildapizzafun/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/chef-d-allen-7176a36b

Twitter: https://twitter.com/build_pizza

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildapizza

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyD30yKlIfxaAVpFDYQ90jw

Others: I want to thank my girls, Normesha & Nahshona Kelly for their unconditional support! Build a Pizza is a family business and all their hard work was instrumental in our journey! My family in Chicago who roots for us! My friends & family here in Houston, Yasmine Hawkins-Keeler who gave her time & support in making my vision at every event come to life with her décor!! Tawana Cox who’s always donated her time to capture the moments with her beautiful photos at every event! Everyone with the Delecia Bilbo with Bilbo Duo & Team, Michelle Anthony, and Yashica Kenerson who has worked for Build a Pizza and continuously support our journey! Our customers who purchased pizzas or other menu items during the pandemic. You could have gone anywhere, but you chose us. We greatly appreciate you giving us a try and supporting our small business. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.