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Business and Communication<br />
YESS Award<br />
By Staff<br />
Young Entrepreneur Success Story<br />
Recognizing Entrepreneurs Under 30 who are Cultivating<br />
the Spirit of Innovation in North Dakota.<br />
Photo by Glasser Images<br />
A Young Entrepreneur Wraps Up His Future<br />
Chris Volk has two passions: entrepreneurship<br />
and playing hockey, so it was paradoxical when<br />
the 28-year-old Hazen native told us that in his<br />
experience, the number one reason that potential<br />
entrepreneurs walk away from their dreams is that<br />
they get cold feet. A confident and driven young<br />
business owner, we have a feeling that the only<br />
place Volk’s feet have ever been cold was on the<br />
hockey rink. After high school, Volk spent four<br />
years in the army. “In my third year,” Volk told us,<br />
“I decided that I wanted to be my own boss.” He<br />
had always looked up to entrepreneurs and when<br />
a friend took him out to eat at a Pita Pit restaurant,<br />
he knew immediately that he had found his dream.<br />
Tell us about your company?<br />
The Pita Pit specializes in Middle Eastern-style<br />
wrap sandwiches. We combine fast food efficiency<br />
and emphasize fresh and healthy ingredients. I<br />
opened the franchise’s 222nd store. It is a franchise<br />
The Pita Pit<br />
Chris Volk<br />
2930 N 14th St.<br />
Bismarck, N.D.<br />
701.751.4202<br />
that has a pretty good track record; over 50 percent<br />
of all Pita Pit franchisees own more than one store.<br />
Also The Pita Pit franchise is so new that they<br />
act on their owners’ suggestions and allow more<br />
creativity than older, more established franchises.<br />
What is it about your business that you<br />
are most proud of?<br />
When I am wearing a Pita Pit hat or shirt and<br />
people say to me, “I love The Pita Pit.” It’s not just,<br />
“I like it” but, “I love it!”<br />
Did you have any early doubts that might<br />
have stopped you?<br />
Not at all. I was sure about what I wanted to do.<br />
I was pretty determined. My only obstacle was<br />
financial and I knew that I could overcome that.<br />
Finding the right location was difficult because<br />
in the restaurant business, location is critical. I<br />
bought the rights to the franchise in November<br />
30 thecitymag.com
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