I had a blast sitting down with Nick Bogacz, owner of Caliente Pizza and Draft House, in one of his restaurant locations. Nick talked about what it’s like to grow to five stores, how he approaches employee retention, the thrill of winning pizza competitions around the world, and why it’s critical that you never stop learning as a business owner. We also discussed one of my favorite topics, which is giving back to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and Nick blew me away with some incredible and gracious examples of how he has done just that over the years.
Nick Bogacz’s journey to becoming a successful owner and operator of five Caliente Pizza and Draft House locations started with working multiple jobs and putting in ninety-hour work weeks. He and his wife scrimped and saved enough to buy an existing local pizzeria, and the vision became reality. In this episode, Nick talks about creating a culture of growth and recognition for his employees, the challenges of expanding his company, and how he differentiates his pizzeria from the competition. During our conversation, he shared a hilarious story about the name of his business and his experience when buying the first location. Nick is also an author and speaker, and we discussed the importance of paying it forward to other entrepreneurs who need a helping hand. His willingness to open his doors and share his knowledge with other aspiring restaurateurs is an example that all of us should follow more often.
If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!
YOU CAN REACH ME AT:
Podcast: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com
Website: https://www.thestartupshoppe.net/podcasts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano
Phone: 412-336-8247
YOU CAN REACH NICK BOGACZ AT:
Website: https://pizzadrafthouse.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caliente_pizza
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickbogaczofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calientepizzaanddrafthouse
Twitter: https://twitter.com/calientepdrafth