Izzy’s closes in Bend, Redmond; becoming Round Table Pizza

The Izzy’s restaurants in Bend and Redmond closed their doors Friday night, but both locations will reopen soon as Round Table Pizza outlets, company officials confirmed Monday.

“We just decided to kind of consolidate our interests over the Willamette Valley,” said Wendy Ochs, vice president of operations for the Albany-based firm that opened its Bend location in the early 1980s at the then-Bend River Mall (now Bend River Promenade) and its Redmond location on Southwest 11 th Street about nine years ago.

“We just kind of wanted to have a few less stores and feel a little bit leaner,” Ochs said. “It was not an easy decision, but it worked out in terms of locations for both companies.”

The change will leave 14 Izzy’s locations in operation, in western Oregon and Washington.

Bend’s new Round Table site will be a move north from the existing location on Third Street, while the company expands into Redmond.

“Round Table approached us a couple months ago, as they were losing their lease in Bend and they were looking for a new location,” Ochs explained. “Part of the deal was they would also take care of Redmond, which is an expansion for them. It was just kind of a win-win situation.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

She said Round Table will “be able to give jobs to most of the Izzy’s employees – we’re happy about that,” Ochs said, adding, “We’d just like to thank our customers for their support over the years.”

Izzy’s, a regional family restaurant chain with all-you-can-eat pizza, salad & dessert bars, plus Sunday brunch, was founded in 1979 by Fred Jansen and his mother, Isabel (Izzy) Covalt. She and her late husband had owned and operated the first Shakey’s Pizza Parlors franchises, in Albany and Corvallis, for 20 years.

Corey Howland, whose family has owned the Bend Round Table since 1998, said in KTVZ.COM comments that their current location will close April 27 for the transition.

“The former Izzy’s in Bend should be open for take-out and delivery by May 1,” he wrote.

“Just wait and see the Round Table clubhouse we’re putting in!” Howland said in one response. “We’ll have an expanded menu, a full bar with a patio, two party rooms and a large gaming area for the kiddos.”