About

Fireside Pizza Co. is the brainchild of long time friends Ray Villaman and Ted Kennedy. Ray is a 20 year restaurant veteran, including – California Pizza Kitchen, Boston Market, the California Restaurant Association and even a short time as President of Blimpies. Ray also had a ton of help from his Father-in-law, Rich, who remains to this day a vital part of the restaurant management team. You may see the big, smiling fella working with the dough in the back or out front with the guests.

Other help came from Mark Wheeler, Scott Kennedy, and, of course, Ray's lovely wife Chris and their two sons Jacob and Nicholas. We hope that you enjoy this family creation – combined with some great investors and friends – all wrapped together to bring you the Fireside Pizza Company.

We've won a ton of awards for our fresh, unique pizza – but the best award is still when you tell us or your friends that you had an excellent experience here – thanks so much.

Founded in 2002 by Ray, Fireside Pizza began as a single Tahoe restaurant built on a simple idea: bring people together over great food in a place that feels like home. What started as one warm, welcoming spot in the mountains quickly became something more—a launching point for careers, friendships, and lifelong connections. Many team members got their very first start in the restaurant industry at Fireside, growing their skills, confidence, and leadership, and eventually becoming partners and owners of other restaurants within the group.

From those humble beginnings, Fireside grew into the Tahoe Restaurant Group, now home to four distinct and beloved locations: Fireside Pizza, Rubicon Pizza, Base Camp Pizza, and Azul Latin Kitchen.  Each restaurant reflects the spirit of Tahoe while sharing a common foundation rooted in teamwork, opportunity, and genuine hospitality.

In May 2025, that commitment came full circle when the group proudly became employee owned—recognizing the people who built it and giving them a true stake in its future. The pillars of success have always centered on one key value: people. Community, friends, and family are at the heart of everything TRG does, supported by a deep belief in being locally owned, locally supported, and deeply connected to the place it calls home.

Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, California, is one of the largest ski areas in the United States, and was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. It is the second-largest ski area at Lake Tahoe after Heavenly, with 33 chairlifts, and has the only funitel lift in the U.S. The resort attracts approximately 600,000 skiers a year.

Located in the Sierra Nevada, with a base of 6,200 ft (1,900 m) and spread across 6 peaks and 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) the resort tops out at 9,050 ft (2,760 m) above sea level at Granite Chief. The area receives heavy maritime snowfall, frequently receiving 40 ft (12 m) or more in a winter.

A scenic aerial tramway carries visitors to 8,200 ft (2,500 m) to High Camp. The cars are attached to a fixed point on a cable loop. When one car is at the top of the mountain, the other car is at the bottom.

Palisades Tahoe is home to several annual summer events. In June, the Broken Arrow Skyrace series features a 46K race winding through the resort's challenging terrain. Before you can catch your breath from the Skyrace, the Western States Endurance Run has runners starting at Palisades Tahoe and running 100 miles through the backcountry to Auburn. In August, the Writers Workshops attracts authors from all over the world.

With all the events and outdoor opportunities, Palisades Tahoe makes for a great vacation destination, and we will be waiting for you in the village with hot pizza and a cold drink.