Attention all Lake Highlands pizza lovers: Prepare yourselves!

LH Today has teamed up with Picasso’s Pizza & Grill to offer this week’s installment of the Shop Lake Highlands Deal of the Week!

We’d like to start by introducing our readers to Andrew Albert, owner of Picasso’s Pizza & Grill.

As a kid, Andrew never imagined he would own a restaurant, let alone one that he once cleaned the floors of as an hourly employee.

While Andrew worked in the pizza business for several years during high school, his dream was to go on the road and play music in a band.

After graduating from Lake Highlands High School in 1985, Andrew left his management position at The Pizza Factory to pursue that dream.

For the better part of the next four years, Andrew and his friends did what they loved to do - play music.

“We weren’t making any money, but we sure were having fun,” he says.

However, in 1990, reality set in. “There was just a point in time when the band decided we weren’t ever going to make a good living do the music thing.”

“That year we played our last show at SXSW in Austin, and then we went our separate ways. I came back to Lake Highlands to try and figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up,” he chuckles.

Little did he know, returning to his roots was a great decision. Not only did Andrew come back to Lake Highlands, but he also got back into the pizza business.

The Pizza Factory had changed hands and was now named Picasso’s. Andrew worked as a part-time manager and also delivered pizzas for the new owners.

In 1993, following a few thousand pizza delivers, Andrew became the owner of Picasso’s after buying the business from his previous boss.

“As a lot of people know, Picasso’s was originally located north of LBJ on Skillman,” says Andrew.

“We invested a lot of money in the place but, in the end, when the new location opened up at Skillman and Walnut Hill, we jumped at the opportunity to make the move and haven’t looked back.”

In November 2006, Picasso’s moved to its new location and sales quickly doubled. Picasso’s now has 3 locations throughout the metroplex and employs 160 people, 60 of whom work in the Lake Highlands location.

“Moving the location to Walnut Hill and Skillman was the best business decision I’ve ever made.”

“We have a great relationship with the people of Lake Highlands. It’s almost like one great big family,” he continues. “The entire community has supported us through thick and thin.”

“We have customers who have basically had a standing reservation for nearly 16 years.”

“I’m really fortunate to be here,” concludes Andrew. “To not only have had the chance to grow up in Lake Highlands, but to also be able to carve out a career here is pretty special. Not everyone gets that chance, and I’m grateful to the community for supporting us.”

Picasso’s Pizza & Grill is located at 7215 Skillman, at the northwest corner of Walnut Hill Line.

You'll find them online at http://www.picassospizza.com.

This week’s Deal of the Week is a large thin crust pizza with up to 3 classic toppings for $9.99. (regularly priced at $17.99) This coupon can be used for dine-in or take-out only. No deliveries.

Thanks to Andrew and the team at Picasso's for this great deal!