Redmond resident Casey Seremek and Seattleite Kevin York are the “eco-entrepreneurs” behind Pizza Fusion’s new Seattle location.

A pioneer in both the environmental and organic restaurant movements, Pizza Fusion recently opened in the new Trace Lofts at 12th Avenue and Madison on Capitol Hill.

Upon receiving certification, Pizza Fusion will be Washington’s first ever organic and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified restaurant (http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/Project/RegisteredProjectListDetail.aspx?ID=10223687).

Seremek is a licensed certified public accountant (CPA) and previously served as the director of finance at Eastside Catholic High School. After he began freelancing as a CPA, York, the former vice president of sales for Spring Air Mattress’ Northwest region, came to him as a client, excited about the Pizza Fusion concept.

“Pizza Fusion’s industry-leading sustainable approach to restaurant service is what attracted us to their unique business model,” York explained in a press release. “We were seeking a business that would provide an opportunity to do our part in the preservation of the Puget Sound region for future generations to enjoy in the years ahead.”

Seremek decided to partner with York and since their Seattle shop opened on Nov. 1, “we’re getting a good reaction,” said Seremek. “Go to Yelp.com and you’ll see the reviews.”

Their decor incorporates materials procured from landmarks in and around the city. They looked for local, reusable elements to spice up their earth-friendly eatery.

The dining chairs, tables, and bar stools came from the recently closed Sunset Bowl in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The hardwood flooring was acquired from Earthwise Architectural Salvage and was originally used at Garfield High School in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood.

Pews preserved from the First Church Seattle, formerly located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, have been transformed into booth seating at Pizza Fusion.

As well as building all of their restaurants to LEED certification standards, Pizza Fusion delivers their food in company-owned hybrid vehicles and offsets 100 percent of their power consumption with the purchase of renewable energy certificates.

People also like Pizza Fusion’s organic menu, Seremek noted: “It’s better food, tastier, everything is fresh … and our presentation is different. It’s an oval-shaped, long pie with a thin crust.”

Plus, there are lots of menu items for diners with restricted or selective diets.

For example, Pizza Fusion was recently recognized by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) as a top-10 vegan-friendly pizzeria in America for its vegan menu selections including casein-free soy cheese, breadsticks, brownies, sandwiches, and more.

Their gluten-free pizza crusts and beers have been very popular with those who have celiac disease “and we have excellent gluten-free brownies,” Seremek added.

Other big draws are their organic ice creams and sorbets, not to mention a huge selection of organic and vegan wines, he stated.

Getting back to Pizza Fusion’s recycled restaurant fixtures from significant buildings, we asked Seremek if he’s a history buff.

“I watch the History Channel a lot — I like Seattle history best — but most of all, it’s just good practice,” he concluded.

For more information about Pizza Fusion, call (206) 709-8400 or visit www.pizzafusion.com.