Seeking a Bigger Slice

Add Chicago Pizza & Brewery Inc. to the list of businesses that will be needing new workers in the new year.

The Mission Viejo-based company said this week that it will open three new BJ’s Pizza, Grill & Brewerys next year in Los Angeles County. Chicago Pizza currently owns 27 restaurants, including 21 BJ’s and 6 Pietros Restaurants.

BJ’s was purchased in 1991 by two certified public accountants, Chief Executive Paul Motenko and President Jerry Hennessy, who changed the company’s name to Chicago Pizza & Brewery.

The company plans to open two to four new stores along the West Coast annually in coming years, a spokeswoman said.

Leslie Earnest covers retail businesses and restaurants for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7832 and at leslie.earnest@latimes.com.