Food trucks have taken off in Fairbanks, and Randy Bezdek had an idea to offer something that wasn't being done locally, and he needed a business loan to get started.

Interview with Randy Bezdek, small business owner and Spirit of Alaska member

Food trucks have taken off in Fairbanks, and Randy Bezdek had a dream to offer something that wasn’t being done locally. In a short interview at HooDoo Brewery, here’s his journey with Spirit of Alaska’s small business loan team and his mobile wood-fired pizza business, Hungry Robot.

Randy Bezdek placing a pizza in his custom-buit oven

Finding the Dream

Spirit of Alaska: So why wood-fired pizza?

Randy: I had been at the Farmer’s Market for several years, selling Popsicles and drinks, but we wanted to branch out into something new, that wasn’t being offered in Fairbanks. I had seen wood-fired flat-breads offered, but I thought there might be a place for full pizzas. So I thought I could bring that to Fairbanks.

Pizzas being cooked in a wood-fired oven

I spent about 8 months researching the right wood oven. Eventually, I found a French oven that they would custom build for us. After I was able to obtain the loan, it took them 4 months to build the oven. Then they shipped it to Anchorage, and we went down there, hooked it up and brought it up here. That was back in November of 2016.

Spirit of Alaska: That is fantastic. Why did you choose to go into business with a Spirit of Alaska loan?

Randy: Well, I had tried at another credit union, and they dragged their feet for 4 months. Eventually they told me that they just don’t do loans on something like this. I didn’t understand why they didn’t say that in the beginning. Another small business owner I knew had gotten a business loan through Spirit of Alaska. He suggested I should apply there. I hadn’t even thought of asking at Spirit.

So I met with a business loan officer at Spirit of Alaska, and they had me a loan for the pizza oven within 2 weeks.

Loan Process

Spirit of Alaska: What was the highlight of the loan process?

Randy: The fast turnaround, and everyone was super easy and friendly to work with. I was really happy with the loan process. And then, you guys gave us another loan for a popsicle machine! That was even faster! I just turned in some updated profit spreadsheets, and I had the loan within 2 to 3 days. It was easy because everything else was already in your files.

Randy Bezdek placing a pizza in his custom-built pizza oven

Spirit of Alaska: Tell me a little more about your oven.

Randy: It cooks at 1100 – 1200 degrees, and takes 30 minutes to warm up in the summer. Takes a lot longer in the winter. We only burn birch wood. Anything else will negatively impact the flavor of the pizza or the ceramic stones in the oven with either tannins or sap. I can cook 4 pizzas at a time!

Spirit of Alaska: Thanks for your time. I’m so happy we could help you bring this great pizza to Fairbanks.

A sunset with the Hungry Robot pizza oven in the foreground.

Find the Hungry Robot on Facebook

line drawing of a robot pizza oven holding a pizza for Hungry Robot's logo

Posted on: May 11, 2017

e-Teller Login

Search

I need help with Fulfilling Small Business Dreams with Hungry Robot

We’d love to help! Just give us your name, phone number, and email address and we’ll contact you as soon as possible!

    For your security, do not include sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or account numbers, in your message. If you need to communicate with us about sensitive information please use the Message Center in e-Teller, your online banking application, or call us during regular business hours so we can verify your identity. For other inquiries, send us a message here and we're happy to help!

I have a question

We’d love to answer your questions! Just give us your name, phone number, and email address and we’ll contact you as soon as possible!

    For your security, do not include sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or account numbers, in your message. If you need to communicate with us about sensitive information please use the Message Center in e-Teller, your online banking application, or call us during regular business hours so we can verify your identity. For other inquiries, send us a message here and we're happy to help!

Leaving Our Website

Attention! You are now leaving the Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union website. We do not control the security or privacy practices used at the following website. Periodically, Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union's website may include information from third parties and/or links to other websites. Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union does not make any warranties, express or implied, regarding any third party information or links to alternate websites. In addition, Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of the content provided by third parties. If you click "CONTINUE", an external website will be opened in a new browser window. If you click "CANCEL", you will be returned to the this website.