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Pizza By Ruffin

@pizzabyruffin

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Telling the story of the Black Diaspora through pizza.
📍Seattle - SLU
🍕Roman Style
🏆Intentionalist Rookie of the Year ‘25
🏆Eater SEA Best Pizza ‘25

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Went to another speakeasy pop up at Fairview Market Hall from @ibruffin and @nocallnoshowseattle and @rate_my_pair awhile back. Isaiah is bringing back his miraculous Cinnamom Rolls this Sunday the 18th at @pizzabyruffin and doing a fried chicken sandwich at @streamlinetavern Monday the 19th. You’ll regret missing either of them.

#fyp #seattlefoodie #seattletiktok #seattlefood #seattle

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This weekend we have THE ever so lovely @harlotteoscara hosting our Friday Fright Night with @roostaface setting the spookiest vibes.

Saturday we will have Chef Isaiah in the house slinging pies by @pizzabyruffin and I expect all of you babes to serenade the evening away with a glass of @ramcellars Sparkle Pony in hand. Did I mention her majesty @lumiere_rose will be our KJ?!

Come dressed up and get treats both nights.
10$ cover/ doors at 6/ 21+ only

#seattleevents #spookyseason #karaokenight

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So excited to be part of the first Seattle Pizza competition on 10/13! Counting down to the opportunity to judge the best pizza our city has to offer in multiple categories including a few of my favorites - Beer & Pizza pairing, Seafood pizza, best use of WA cheese and more!

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I’m not even a pizza person but I enjoyed the flavors @pizzabyruffin !

🌶️Spicy Pep
🌭Seattle Dog

#seattlepizza #seattlefoodscene #seattlefoodie #seattlefoodies #seattlefoodieadventure

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On this episode of Identity Unboxed, Isaiah Ruffin, Chef and Owner of Pizza By Ruffin discusses his journey to entrepreneurship, representation, and the importance of showing up to support Black-owned businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2025, Black or African American-owned firms accounted for 3.4% of employer businesses in the U.S. “By supporting other Black-owned businesses, it shows the example for others to take that role on themselves. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to young Black learners and I can see the awe and inspiration. They’re like, oh my God, you have your own business? And I’m like, yeah, you can too,” shared Isaiah.

Isaiah began Pizza by Ruffin with a business plan and an idea while working as a chef at a brewery where he met his wife and business partner, Colleen Constant. The Pew Research Center Analysis of data from the 2023 Annual Business Survey also found that out of all employer firms across the U.S., Black-owned businesses made up the greatest share of firms in D.C., Maryland, and Georgia, where in Washington, only 1.1%-3.% of firms were Black-owned. He discussed navigating entrepreneurship in Seattle and building community through reciprocity, showing up when you say you will and doing the same for other Black entrepreneurs in the city. “February is our busiest month because, man, they’d be like, oh, I want to support a Black-owned business.” While the seasonal support is beneficial, ensuring longevity for Black business owners and a thriving economy requires thinking about choosing to shop with us outside of Black History Month and Juneteenth.

After traveling the world and honing his craft as a culinary artist, Isaiah also shared about how his global experiences informed respect for the craft and work that people in restaurants do where in Italy, a place he was stationed in the military, showed him the skill and dedication that chefs there undergo often earning 4-year degrees and making pay that is equivalent to other professional fields.

Visit Pizza by Ruffin in SLU and don’t forget to follow their Instagram for updates on upcoming community events. 🍕

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Isaiah Ruffin’s business story started with a bold idea, a school bus, and a plan to use food to serve his community. Isaiah met his wife, Colleen, while they were both working at a brewery: she worked in HR, and he was the chef opening a restaurant. He pitched the brewery on launching a mobile food operation to support charitable efforts, but the idea didn’t move forward there. Isaiah already had a business plan, though, and he kept believing in it.

One day, he spotted a short school bus in a junkyard, turned around, bought it, and drove it home. That bus became the start of Pizza by Ruffin’s culinary journey in Colorado. The vision was bigger than pizza: Isaiah wanted to share the stories of the Black diaspora through food and make tomorrow better than today. The business grew from a mobile operation into a brick-and-mortar pizzeria in South Lake Union, Seattle, which opened in 2024. Pizza by Ruffin serves Roman-style pizza al taglio, pizza by the cut, with a distinctive approach shaped by culture, creativity, and community.

Giving back is part of the business, too. Isaiah and Colleen founded the Food Lit Foundation. When customers choose to give extra, those donations help fund learning gardens at schools and pizza parties for nonprofits. “So, the framework of our business is built in this idea of like how can we give back to make tomorrow better than today? But also, how do we promote our passions? And for me, that’s exploring food and sharing the Black diaspora foods with others. So, it was a natural fit,” Isaiah shared. The pizzeria also uses an all-inclusive pricing model rather than accepting tips, reflecting Isaiah’s commitment to equity in food service.

Today, Pizza by Ruffin is more than a place to grab a slice: it’s a platform for food literacy, cultural storytelling, and community connection. Isaiah’s journey shows what can happen when a plan meets a leap of faith – and a purpose that keeps growing.

🎙️ Listen to this episode of Identity Unboxed to learn more about Isaiah’s journey on your preferred podcast platform!

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📸 What a night! Here are a few scenes of from ~Pizza Pals~ tasting menu event.

One night, two chefs, six courses, new friendships.

We had a lot of fun putting this one together with @ibruffin from @pizzabyruffin - thank you to everyone who made it out 💙🧡

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On this week’s episode, ‘Telling the Story of the Black Diaspora through Pizza’ of Identity Unboxed, we sat down with Isaiah Ruffin, Owner & Chef of Pizza by Ruffin. The pizzeria is run by wife and husband, Colleen Constant and Isaiah who started their culinary business journey on a short school bus in Colorado. Now with their location opened in 2024 in South Lake Union with their first brick and mortar, they are making pizzas and building community. They share the depths of Black culture through the culinary arts with their unique twist on roman style, ‘pizza al taglio’ (pizza by the cut). Isaiah got his start in the culinary arts in the Army, where he served for 13 years and visited places like Denmark, Iceland, and Italy. With a Master’s in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College, he focused his research on social responsibility and food service which led him to create a social impact arm of his business. The Food Lit Foundation promotes food literacy by dedicating funds towards garden grants for schools as well as other learning-based non-profits.

On the humble beginnings of the restaurant back in Colorado, Isaiah shared — “I was driving home one day, and I saw a short school bus on the side of the road, like in a junkyard type situation. I called. They told me the price. I turned around and got it and drove it home.” This meant creating a business rooted in his values to share his love for unique culinary creations that showcased the Black diaspora and pizza done with his own authentic touch. The Seattle - Tacoma - Bellevue metro area gained 962 Black-owned employer businesses in 2022 according to the Brookings’ analysis of American Business Survey data —a 90.7% increase from 2017. 8.9% of the population is Black while 2.4% of employer businesses are Black-owned in this area. Isaiah discussed the challenges, his learnings, and successes in an increasingly expensive city.

💡The restaurant industry in Seattle is precarious, where in 2025, 23 restaurants closed reported by the Seattle Met and Eater. Isaiah emphasized the importance of showing up for Black businesses.

🎧 Listen to Isaiah’s episode on your preferred podcast platform!

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Kamp Social House has risen from the dead all October to hang with all of you at Lucy’s BS. It wasn’t too long ago we had Kamp as part of our social calendars every weekend and let’s be real, ever since they closed their doors, we have been screaming to get them back. This spooky season we used our One Wish Willow and @kampseattle came to answer with a lineup of DJ sets, costume contests, karaoke, cocktails and THE most incredible spooky vibes. Kovens unite for this and you don’t want to miss it.

Weekend festivities are 6pm-11pm, doors are 10$ and space will be limited.

**Lucys will be open for regular hours Wed&Thurs as well as any unlisted weekend dates.

#seattleevents #supportsmallbusiness #lesbian #witches #unite

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A monthly vinyl night for crate diggers & anyone who just wants to hang with some good music.🎶

We’re bringing a rotating record store pop-up to the rooftop, paired with rotating food pop-ups and vinyl DJ @radjaw spinning all evening.

Find a record you’re into? Ask Radjaw to spin it, give it a listen while you grab a drink and decide if it’s coming home with you. Plus, happy hour is served all-day on Mondays!

The deets:
🗓️ Monday, Sept. 28, 5-10pm
📀 @rotationsballard
🍴 Colleen's Catch
🎧 @Radjaw
🍹 All-day Monday happy hr

No tix required! Book a table in advance via @resy, grab first-come, first-served seating, or hang out in our standing room area while you shop and listen.

Psssttt...Vinyl Head Nights happen monthly! Mark your calendar for upcoming dates: Oct 19 • Nov 16 • Dec 14

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The menu for our pizza tasting collab with @ibruffin from @pizzabyruffin. This one is sold out - thank you to everyone who grabbed a seat! We’re excited to hang out with pizza pals old and new.

#seattlepizza #seattleevents #tastingmenu #seattleeats #capitolhillseattle

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Heard many rave reviews about @pizzabyruffin so decided to give them a go. This was back in Feb when they had plenty of African flavors in celebration of Black History Month - which I immediately knew I had to try 🤤

Roman style pizza! Not only did they nail the flavors, the owners were also super sweet ❤️

plantain coconut mascarpone slices 🤯 on a sweeter side but seriously addicting

A total flavor bomb! If I worked close by this would for sure be my go to lunch.

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