Taboo Pizza has officially opened for business at 3017 Harrison Blvd in Ogden, Utah. The building, former home to Pizza Runner, was purchased by Jeremy and Jennifer Holmes following the closing of Pizza Runner in Dec. 2018.
“We had been training for Mount Everest and for our weekly cheat meal we would always go to Pizza Runner,” Jeremy Holmes said. “When we saw the building go up for sale last fall we just knew we had to buy it.”
After purchasing the building, the Holmes completely renovated and rebranded as Taboo Pizza. Currently, they have hired ten new employees with the possibility of expanding in the future.
“Ogden is a community that draws on the heart,” Jeremy Holmes said. “The city has improved so much in the last ten or so years and a lot of that is due to small business owners. We’re excited to open our first restaurant in Ogden and be a part of that growth.”
According to the US Small Business Administration, small businesses in Utah employed 557,794 people, or 46.3% of the private workforce, in 2015. To help facilitate small-business growth, the Ogden City Business Information Center (BIC) offers business resources, capital opportunities, counseling and mentoring for entrepreneurs such as the Holmes.
“More than 86% of businesses in Utah have less than 20 employees,” said Sara Stoffers, BIC Manager. “Small businesses are crucial to our local economy and we strive to help entrepreneurs open or expand in Ogden.”
The owners of Taboo Pizza worked with the Ogden City BIC and kBent’s Business Bootcamp program as they developed their business and prepared to open. Through the BIC’s facilitation, the Holmes recently became graduates of the Business Bootcamp: Leveling Up course offered by kBent, a full service marketing and PR firm located in Ogden.
The Business Bootcamp course helped to qualify Taboo Pizza for the Ogden City Small Business Loan Program (SBLP), a program that helps fund loans 
up to $90,000 to be used for eligible business expenses. The program is designed to stimulate economic growth and support new businesses growing in low- to moderate-income areas in Ogden City and within industries targeted by Ogden City Business Development.
“Through the BIC we were able to take the Business Bootcamp course,” Jeremy Holmes said. “It helped provide courses for our startup, access to guest speakers and other educational resources for new business owners like us.”
The Business Bootcamp runs for an intensive six-week period and offers entrepreneurs courses on business management. There are three levels within the bootcamp: starting up, leveling up and exit strategies. The program is geared towards entrepreneurs and where they are in their business journey - whether just starting out or a seasoned business owner looking to expand.
Each week features presenters who are experts in their fields, a homework assignment, peer review and coach for the small group series. Graduates receive a certificate of completion and become eligible to qualify for a reduced interest rate from Ogden City’s SBLP.
For more information on Taboo Pizza, please visit https://taboo.pizza or www.facebook.com/Taboopizza.
To request an appointment or to sign up for the next Business Bootcamp, please visit https://kbent.co/pages/business-bootcamp.
Those interested in utilizing BIC to help start or expand a business, please call 801-629-8613 or email bicinfo@ogdencity.com. Additional information can be found by visiting www.ogdenbic.com.