Michael Cripe
Special to the Citizen
Northern Lights Pizza, located at 7711 NW Prairie View Road, is under new management.
Cameron MacDonald and Chase Hudson announced their new roles as owners March 24. Though the two owners only stepped up to the pizza plate about a month ago, both MacDonald and Hudson have past experience with Northern Lights.
MacDonald specifically has worked with his father, Patrick, at the company for 4 1/2 years. MacDonald’s father used to own the Prairie View location, so the establishment certainly has family ties.
Hudson worked at Northern Lights for a year before leaving to focus on a job with being a firefighter/EMT. Then, when approached with the opportunity to run the business with his best friend, he couldn’t turn it down.
Best friends Cameron MacDonald, left, and Chase Hudson, have taken over ownership of the Northern Lights Pizza location on 7711 NW Prairie View Road in Kansas City North.
Submitted photo
MacDonald commented on his connection to Northern Lights Pizza and the position both he and his friend have recently acquired.
“I wouldn’t really say we got promoted, Northern Lights Pizza is basically a family,” MacDonald said. “Patrick wanted to better his son and his unofficial sons’ lives by creating an opportunity for them to have financial stability and allow for personal development through the business. The transition to ownership has been a learning experience.”
MacDonald, who is a police officer, continued on, saying that the experience has been challenging as it means “adapting to new ideas” and “giving employees a new outlook.”
Increasing brand recognition is paramount for MacDonald and Hudson, so this comes goals to strive toward going forward.
When asked what plans the duo had for the next five years, MacDonald had this to say:
“We hope to move our location to a more visually known area within Parkville/Zona Rosa area. We also want Northern Lights to become a go-to location in the Northland.”
For those unaware, Northern Lights derives its name from the Aurora Borealis. Though the connection does not make itself apparent at first, MacDonald hopes that customers can see the relation in the establishment’s colorful cast of employees.
“Our employees are number one in ensuring Northern Lights lives up to its name,” MacDonald said. “They are a representation of our company and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes is sometimes overlooked. Our employees come to work with an excitement to continue to grow our company.”
Hudson and MacDonald are still learning the finer details of Northern Lights. Thanks to history and understanding what makes the company’s character tick, the team of owners looks to be on the path to finding their own groove.