How You Slice It

This week I'm joined by Santo, a second-generation pizza shop owner who walked away from the family business, spent five years in the corporate world, and then decided to come back and open his own pizzeria. We talk about what pulled him back into pizza, the realities of finding a location, negotiating a lease, build-out costs, equipment decisions, and what it's really like during those first few...

Mark, owner of Leo's Pizza in Williamsport, PA, shares the story of closing his first shop, learning some tough business lessons, and reopening with a completely different mindset. Today he's focused on running a simple operation, making great pizza, spending time with his family, and building the business around the life he actually wants. In this episode we talk about:  Closing his first pizza s...

After 25 years in business, Bill was burned out. He was seriously thinking about selling his pizza shop before a visit with another owner completely changed his perspective. In this episode, we talk about:  Why he almost walked away   The marketing changes that helped his business grow again   How better food photography increased online orders   Using Toast Online Ordering and QR codes   Why he s...

What happens when a serious car accident forces you to start over from scratch? In this episode, Bruce talks with Chuck Rozay, owner of Uncle Chuck's Pizza in LaSalle, Illinois. After helping build a successful pizza business and recovering from a life-threatening accident, Chuck took a chance on himself and opened his own pizzeria with no investors, no partners, and a limited budget. They discuss...

In this episode, John from Johnny’s Pizza shares how he transformed an existing pizza shop in the Philadelphia suburbs into a modern, highly respected pizza brand. We talk about learning from New York pizza shops, experimenting with ovens, managing growth, opening a second location, hiring staff, social media, cheesesteaks, pizza trends, and the reality of running a successful pizza business.

This session, brought to you in partnership with Women in Pizza, explores  Independent ownership and how the industry relies on people who bet on themselves.  "How Women Are Shaping Independent Ownership" highlights the women who are doing exactly that, and what their experiences reveal about where the industry is headed. Host: Anna Crucitt // Mercurio’s https://mercuriosgelatopizza.com/ Panelists...

Slice founder and CEO, Ilir Sela, chats with Tomor Turkeshi (Argento’s by Tommy), Kemal Andican (Tabor Pizzeria), and Vito DeCandia (Angel City Pizza) about rising costs, shifting customer habits, delivery economics, and the growing gap between chains and independents.  Is your pizzeria set up to last? This episode of Shop Talk will leave you with the insights and takeaways needed for you to futur...

More menu. More discounts. More promotions. Convention and tradition says do more to earn more. That’s not always the case. And for some, it’s actually the opposite.  In Operating a Profitable Pizzeria with a Smaller Menu (and No Discounts), we take a closer look at profitable shops that made more with less. This is about focus, margins, and why saying no to complexity is one of the best business...

Three pizza shop owners. One mic. Zero filter.  Tori T, Juan, and Gio get into with Bruce about what's actually moving the needle right now:  - small menus - social media hot takes - when discounts help and when they hurt - why cutting items off your menu might be the best sales move you ever make. 

In this episode, we sit down with Brandt Bishop , a former fine dining executive chef who completely transformed his career by launching a rural pizza pop-up business. Brandt shares how he transitioned from high-stress kitchens to building a flexible and profitable pizza operation that supports his lifestyle and family. We talk about dough fermentation, pizza trailers, managing overhead, frozen pi...

In this episode, Steve shares how he and his wife launched Leechburg Pizza Company from scratch, starting with homemade pizza experiments, used equipment, and a lot of trial and error. He breaks down what surprised him most, what nearly derailed the business, how they adapted their product to fit the market, and how they built the shop to run without him being there full time.

How do you go from a mobile pizza trailer to opening your own pizzeria? In this episode, Thomas shares how he launched a wood-fired pizza catering business with zero followers, booked his first clients through hustle and Google ads, and eventually opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant while still running large catering events. This conversation covers marketing, mobile pizza challenges, staffing, a...

Meet Adrion, the creator of Blk Crust, LA’s viral pizza pop-up that started with a homemade pie and a dream. In this episode, we dive deep into how he went from unemployed to building one of the most unique pizza brands in Southern California, using activated charcoal dough and pure hustle. If you’re thinking of starting your own food business or just love pizza stories, this one’s a must-watch.

n this episode, we dive into the incredible grassroots movement behind the LA Pizza Alliance , founded by David and Tommy. What started as a response to devastating wildfires turned into one of the most inspiring community-driven pizza events in the country. Learn how over 70 pizzerias came together to feed displaced families, first responders, and anyone in need — all with the power of pizza. Thi...

In this episode of How You Slice It , Bruce sits down with Mario, co-owner of Doughboys Pizza in Central Florida. Recorded live at the Pizza Tomorrow Summit 2025 in Orlando, Mario shares his powerful story—from union job security in NYC to getting laid off, losing everything, and starting over in Florida. He dives deep into how Doughboys went from an empty shop to lines around the block, the impac...

Chef Paul left fine dining behind—along with a James Beard Award—to open Myrth , a wood-fired pizza and pasta restaurant in Ada, Michigan. After a huge opening, sales dropped. Instead of giving up, Paul pivoted. In this episode, he shares how he reworked his approach in 2025 to reignite growth, build a stronger brand, and connect with his community.

Live from the Pizza Tomorrow Summit, we sit down with Pat from The Pizza Gene to uncover his insane journey — from a 4-generation New York pizza legacy to building a $6M custom pizzeria with a drive-thru in Stuart, Florida. He spills the real truth about opening delays, off-seasons, why second-gen shops suck, and building culture from scratch. If you're serious about owning a pizza business, this...

Join us live from the Pizza Tomorrow Summit with Tyrell, host of the Pizza King Podcast and former Tampa pizzeria owner. In this episode, we dive deep into the real challenges and solutions for building a strong team culture in a pizza shop — and how content creation and podcasting became the launchpad for Tyrell’s next chapter. Whether you're a seasoned operator or just opening your first slice s...

In this episode, we sit down with Sal, owner of Sal’s Pizza Bar in Orlando, Florida — a New York-style pizza shop that went from concept to packed house with no traditional marketing. Sal shares how his roots in Brooklyn and family pizzeria experience shaped his vision, how he handled COVID setbacks, and how he scaled from 7 to 20+ employees in under 2 years.

In this episode, we sit down with Vitangelo Recchia, owner of Bella Napoli Pizzeria and US Pizza Team member, live from the Pizza Tomorrow Summit in Orlando. Tangelo shares the wild journey from working at Ferrari to launching a successful pizzeria in Florida—and why a health scare led him to completely rethink flour, dough, and everything in between.

In this episode of How You Slice It , we sit down with Andy of Andy's Pizza—a powerhouse operator who scaled from 0 to 15 locations since 2019, all with no marketing budget and zero outside investors. If you're thinking of expanding your pizza shop (or any small business), this episode is a must-watch.

In this episode, Bruce sits down with Rick, the former Chief People Officer at Slice, who is trading Silicon Valley for pepperoni and cheese. Rick shares his journey from tech to pizza, what he didn’t expect, how he picked his location, and what it really takes to build a great team in the food industry. If you're planning to open a pizza shop or struggling to manage yours, Rick’s insights on hiri...

Chris went from messing around with dough in his tiny apartment to launching one of the most buzzed-about pizzerias in Brooklyn, in just 400 square feet. In this episode, he shares how grief, obsession, and a deep love for old-school pizza shops drove him to create a pie his late father would be proud of.

Dominic from Bucky’s in New Jersey shares his full journey—from baking sourdough at home during the pandemic, to launching pop-ups with just $45K, to selling over 1,000 pizzas in a single weekend. This episode is PACKED with tactical insights for anyone dreaming of turning their pizza passion into a thriving business.

In this episode of the How You Slice It Podcast , Bruce talks with Ernesto Rangel, owner of My Place pizzeria in Bath, Pennsylvania — a town of just 3,000 people and 3 other pizza shops. Hear how Ernesto went from making a pizza shaped like Texas in 1988 to owning one of the most beloved gathering spots in his community.