We had the good fortune of connecting with Adrion Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adrion, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process behind me starting BLK Crust Pizza begins with the word freedom. I wanted the autonomy to be and do as I feel at my leisure. I got tired of the corporate grind and decided I wanted to be in control of my own destiny. As opposed to working to accomplish someone else’s dream.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
BLK Crust is family owned and operated pizza pop up located in Altadena, California. The company was founded in the summer of 2024. We are different from most pizzerias because of our unique black dough and our locally sourced ingredients. Everything is handmade in house from scratch. Our dough is fermented for 48-72 hours and is light and airy and easy to digest. The dough is infused with activated charcoal powder to create a robust flavor and absorbs toxins.

Brand wise, I am most proud of our unique product. We are the only pizzeria in Los Angeles dedicated to making black crust pizzas.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend was visiting Los Angeles for a week, I would take them to a variety of places to entertain them. This list would include places like Venice Beach, hiking, a trip to the Griffith Park Observatory, a stop in for food at Griddle Cafe, and Melrose just to name a few.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My village deserves my shoutout. They constantly encourage me to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be. When starting anew, your support teams is very important. They are a key essential element to your success.

Instagram: @Blkcrust

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.