Disability Pride Month wraps up on Wednesday with promising news for individuals with disabilities. Recent data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals a record high in the employment rate for people with disabilities over the past three years. LinkedIn News attributes this rise to the increase in remote work post-pandemic and improved company policies and accommodations.
Restoration Pizza, affiliated with Bosque Brewing Co., is embracing this positive trend. The pizzeria is dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace by collaborating with disability-led nonprofits, streamlining pizza-making processes, and ensuring equal advancement opportunities for employees with disabilities.
Describing itself as “a place where differences enhance our abilities,” Restoration Pizza first opened in Albuquerque in April 2019. It expanded to Santa Fe just before the pandemic hit. Located in the Railyard area, a popular tourist spot, the pizzeria initially faced challenges with foot traffic.
“There was a lot of synergy, and it made sense before we were shut down,” said Jess Griego, chief operations officer and co-owner. The Santa Fe location, originally branded as Bosque Brewing Co., was rebranded as Restoration Pizza in January 2023 to better suit the area’s needs.
Griego mentioned it’s too early to gauge the Santa Fe location’s performance fully, given the pandemic’s impact. However, he believes relocating Restoration Pizza to Santa Fe was the right decision. The location currently employs 20 to 25 people.
Restoration Pizza has partnered with various organizations and nonprofits to enhance its hiring practices and promote inclusion. These partners include Best Buddies in New Mexico, ARCA, Mandy’s Farm, Center for Function and Creativity, Adelante, A Better Way of Living, and Albuquerque Public Schools Transition Services. While these partnerships have not yet been established in Santa Fe, Griego plans to focus on building similar connections there.
Griego explained that the company’s commitment to inclusion began after CEO and co-owner Gabe Jensen visited a restaurant in the Midwest that implemented similar principles. Jensen saw it as an opportunity to offer meaningful work and competitive wages to people with diverse abilities.
The company started by standardizing its pizza-making procedures, including visual aids such as color-coded ingredient lists and recipes at each workstation. Restoration Pizza aims to accommodate individual needs, including allowing job coaches to support employees as needed, while ensuring equal opportunities and compensation.
Griego noted that providing equal opportunities has been eye-opening. Initially, many applicants with disabilities only applied for entry-level positions like dishwashing, despite their potential for other roles. The company has since focused on expanding opportunities for advancement within the company.
Alex Upton, a Santa Fe employee, praised these inclusive practices. Having worked in various cities, Upton values the pizzeria’s commitment to diverse abilities. She highlighted that one of her colleagues with disabilities is now a key player in running the food service.
“I absolutely love working with that population,” Upton said. “Their emotional honesty and work ethic enrich our community and contribute greatly to our team.”