Benji’s Woodfire Pizza, which began as a mobile pizza trailer before opening a permanent restaurant in Citrus Heights, plans to add another permanent restaurant location in Rancho Cordova in 2025.
Benji’s Woodfire Pizza owner Andray Mikayelyan told the Sacramento Business Journal that the company plans to model the new restaurant space after their Citrus Heights location. The restaurant will occupy a 2,300-square-foot space at 2350 Sunrise Blvd. in Rancho Cordova in the Rivergate Shopping Center. Mikayelyan also said he has ordered a pizza oven from Italy directly and plans to place it in the middle of the restaurant.
Mikayelyan told The Sentinel in a prior interview that his pizzeria started in his garage in 2021, before he began operating in a commercial kitchen. Mikayelyan was only 24 years old when he converted the commercial kitchen into his first brick-and-mortar restaurant space. The restaurant opened in December 2023. Prior to opening, Mikayelyan’s mobile operation held pop-ups in a mobile pizza trailer and also offered special event catering.
On the company’s website, Mikayelyan describes the purpose of the business as a calling, to help fund The Father’s Lighthouse Ministries. In an interview with The Sentinel, Mikayelyan explained how his difficult past and a “supernatural encounter” with God motivated him to begin the nonprofit to help address the needs of a fatherless generation.
Related: New Citrus Heights business owner shares his journey from drugs to faith—Citrus Heights Sentinel
The new location in Rancho Cordova, which was once home to another pizzeria, will be remodeled with new flooring, furniture, and décor. Mikayelyan anticipates the Rancho Cordova location could open around October.
The restaurant’s menu includes Neapolitan pizzas with classic toppings like cheese, pepperoni, carnivore, and garden style, as well as more unique styles like the Margherita and Prosciutto Special, and spicy pizzas like Chicken Chipotle, Hot Honey Ricotta, and Spicy and Sweet Piggy.
The menu also includes panuozzo, described as Italian pizza sandwiches, and appetizers such as wings, garlic cheese bread, fries, and items like Benji Bites.
The Citrus Heights restaurant is located at 7530 Auburn Blvd. and is open 4 p.m.–10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays.
