Anthony Beninati: Inaugural Winner of the Keep Local Thriving Award

In just four years, Nardo has built one of the nation’s top independent pizzerias. His secret? Being extremely true to himself and his community. With adventurous, musically named pies (and live music in the shop!), arcade games, and a secret menu, we’re not surprised that Nardo’s Pizza is an absolute hit. 

Tune in for (a censored version) of Nardo’s mom’s (very solid) business advice, the definitive reason that pizza beats burgers, and how an April Fool’s goof became a signature dish. 

Manny and his brother bought their father’s pizzeria and run it together to serve multiple generations of their community. Their proven philosophy: Imagine every order is being prepared for your mom, dad, son, or daughter. 

Hop in for an energetic conversation about new versus existing customers, how to know when you’re successfully staffed, and what it’s like to find out that you’re kind of a big deal. 

Artan had already navigated everything from the mafia to washing dishes in order to open pizza shops in two countries, but it was his son’s unexpected hankering for corporate pizza that lit a fire in him to open Florida’s first-ever mobile pizzeria, now a beloved brick-and-mortar destination. 

Listen in for Artan’s most important element of a successful restaurant, tips on balancing international nuances with a classic recipe, and your likelihood of getting a Hawaiian pizza in Italy.

When Ronnie and Greg talk about community marketing, they don’t mean flyers — they mean donating pizzas, hosting fundraiser nights, and knowing 90% of their customers by name. 

From thoughtful staff rotation to addressing the misconception that technology disconnects you from your customers, listen in as these co-owners share their playbook for turning a good shop into an extremely high-volume shop.

Luis ignored all warnings and opened up a mobile pizzeria — more vintage Italian three-wheeled mini truck than food truck — then followed his own map to success. 

Tune in for the value of novelty, perks of limitation, and approaching your business as a series of “one of one” endeavors rather than a single, scalable concept. 

From helping out other pizzerias to making every customer feel at home, this shop-owning couple puts it exactly right: “It’s not only a family business: we take care of the community.”

Listen in to hear how an Easter sunburn led to taking a leap, buying a franchise pizza shop, and turning it into an award-winning independent pizzeria. 

This industrious entrepreneur and owner of New Jersey’s Nino’s Pizza shares the playbook that led to him being honored for his dedication to customers, value to the local community, and commitment to using technology to help his business thrive. 

Tune in for a lively, industry-insider conversation recorded in the best place on earth: a beloved local pizzeria. 

What started with appetizers on the house turned into 30+ franchise locations of Nancy’s Pizza (and a brand-new kind of pizza). 

Tune in for Dave’s method of building brand loyalty through product consistency, success grounded in authenticity, and the only thing more important than location when opening a new restaurant.

Steve Jobs might have bought the first pizza online, but it was Steve Green actually running the site. Now at the helm of PMQ Pizza Magazine — the powerhouse behind the annual Pizza Power Report — Green gives us a holistic view of everything at the intersection of pizza and technology. 

Listen in for data-based predictions, extraordinary industry history, and marketing tips from Green’s days as a record-breaking Domino’s franchisee (Hint: You only really need your face, but six-person bikes and helicopters can be powerful too).

After 30 years in the finance world, Gary took a gamble on himself (and some used bakery equipment) to open a beloved neighborhood pizzeria. 

Listen in for the power of pizza people, the secret recipe he wishes he’d known, and how he built a customer base so loyal that regulars tell him when they’ll be out of town for a week.