Jake Hernandez
Co-Founder & Head ChefJake's love for ranch-inspired cooking began in his grandmother's kitchen. With over 20 years in the culinary world, he crafts every pizza ranch recipe with precision and soul.
Discover our story — how a passion for bold flavors and community became Bloomington's most-loved pizza ranch experience.
Pizza Ranch was founded in 2009 by Jake and Maria Hernandez, a husband-and-wife team who believed that great pizza deserved bold, ranch-inspired flavors. What started as a small counter-service spot on Holiday Drive in Bloomington, IL quickly grew into a beloved community institution.
Our pizzaranch philosophy has always been simple: use the freshest local ingredients, hand-craft every pizza with care, and treat every customer like family. Today, our ranch pizza recipes — developed over 15 years — remain the heart of everything we do.
Our purpose goes beyond pizza. We exist to bring people together through exceptional food and genuine hospitality.
To craft the most memorable pizza ranch experience in Bloomington — using honest ingredients, bold flavors, and warm service every single visit.
To become the most trusted name in ranch pizza across the Midwest — growing our community one delicious slice at a time.
Fresh, never frozen. Every pizza is made to order using produce sourced from local Illinois suppliers and our own garden herbs.
Pizza Ranch is proud to give back — from sponsoring local sports teams to hosting monthly fundraiser nights for Bloomington schools.
These aren't just words on a wall — they're the standards we hold ourselves to every time we open our doors and every order we deliver.
From the flour in our dough to the cheese on top, we never cut corners. Every ingredient is hand-selected to meet our ranch pizza standard.
Every customer is treated like a neighbor — because at Pizza Ranch, you're not just a transaction; you're part of our story.
We partner with local farms, minimize food waste, and use eco-friendly packaging — because the ranch starts in the soil.
Our chefs experiment with seasonal specials and new ranch-inspired flavors each quarter, keeping our pizzaranch menu exciting and fresh.
From a small family kitchen to Bloomington's most-loved ranch pizza destination — here's how we grew.
Jake and Maria Hernandez open Pizza Ranch on Holiday Drive with a 12-seat dining room, one wood-fired oven, and three ranch pizza recipes. The line wrapped around the block on opening day.
By popular demand, we launched our first delivery service, covering a 5-mile radius across Bloomington. Within six months, deliveries made up 40% of all orders.
Pizza Ranch wins "Best Pizza in Bloomington" for the first time — an honor we've proudly held every year since. Our ranch pizza recipe earns regional recognition in food press.
We expanded our kitchen and remodeled the dining room, doubling seating to 60 guests. Added a private event room for birthdays, parties, and business gatherings.
Launched our digital ordering platform, making it easier than ever to order ranch pizza for delivery or pickup. Online orders grew 200% in the first year alone.
We introduced our pizzaranch franchise model, allowing passionate entrepreneurs to bring the Pizza Ranch experience to new communities across Illinois and beyond.
Pizza Ranch celebrates serving its 50,000th customer — a milestone that reflects the loyalty of the Bloomington community and the dedication of our incredible team.
Meet the dedicated individuals who bring passion, skill, and warmth to every shift at Pizza Ranch.
Jake's love for ranch-inspired cooking began in his grandmother's kitchen. With over 20 years in the culinary world, he crafts every pizza ranch recipe with precision and soul.
Maria built Pizza Ranch's operations from the ground up — from supply chain relationships with local farmers to the seamless delivery network our customers rely on daily.
Carlos joined the pizzaranch team in 2015 after training in Chicago and Austin. His creative approach to seasonal specials keeps our menu exciting and ahead of the curve.
Sophie ensures every pizza ranch customer feels valued — from first order to loyal regular. She leads our community programs and social media presence across Bloomington.
From our family kitchen to your table — bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and the ranch pizza experience you won't find anywhere else in Bloomington.