From Scratch: How Create A Pizza Outlasted the Competition in Fast Casual Dining

Ep. 2 🍕Create A Pizza is the last fast-casual pizza shop still standing in Rochester.

So what did they do right that others didn’t—and how can you follow their lead?

This episode of Elevating Enterprise is your behind-the-counter blueprint for navigating the real world of food service entrepreneurship. We sat down on location with owners Katelyn and John to unpack how they launched their pizza shop without startup capital, survived a pandemic, and built loyal customer trust while others shut their doors.

🎯 You’ll learn:

🔹 Why sweat equity can open more doors than startup capital

🔹 The hidden cost of delivery apps like Grubhub

🔹 How zoning laws can make or break your restaurant dreams

🔹 How consistency and an owner-operator model can outlast competition

🔹 What most first-time business owners wish they knew about leases and location

Whether you're still tossing dough in the back or sketching out your dream restaurant, this episode gives you the real talk and proven strategies to help you build smarter—and stay in business.

• Create A Pizza's Social Media and Website:
• Instagram: @createapizza585
• Facebook: Create A Pizza
• Website Create A Pizza - Rochester, NY - 766 Monroe Ave

Chapters:

0:00 Starting and Sustaining a Successful Pizza Business

7:21 Resilience and Networking in Building a Business

12:19 Negotiating Commercial Leases and Location Importance

16:00 Consistency and Local Sourcing Define Create a Pizza's Success

21:26 Adapting a Pizza Business During Covid Challenges

26:12 Building Community Connections Through Pizza and Business Innovation

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