The second episode of Pizza Story Podcast introduces Ranger Joe from Ranger Joe’s Pizza in Kalispell, MT.
Pizza is at the root of who owner Joe Ledwidge is— from working in his family’s pizza joint in the 80s in Florida to opening his very own pizzeria in Montana with his wife. “Pizza was always in my blood,” Joe explained.
From a Law Enforcement Career to Pizza Professional: Joe’s Story
While his career was in law enforcement, Joe never fully forgot about his love for pizza. “Every few years, I thought about my cousins who were still in the [pizza] business. And I always wondered, ‘What could I have done if I had stayed in the business?’”
Rather than wonder for the rest of his life, Joe retired early from law enforcement and decided to pursue his dreams of opening a shop with his wife in Kalispell, Montana. At that time, Joe explained, “I always felt like I should’ve stayed in the business but I could never put it together. And now, I finally said we’re going to do it.”
Ranger Joe’s opened in 2021, bringing in hundreds of locals, travelers, family, friends, and neighbors each week to taste the best pies in Kalispell. Featuring plenty of pizza options, calzones, and famous cheese bread, Ranger Joe’s keeps their menu simple and classic. “People love it and we focus on keeping it great,” Joe says.
Award-Winning Pizza & Dough Stretcher Extraordinaire: Joe’s Secret to Success
It’s one thing to open a successful pizza shop, but achieving worldwide accolades is a whole different ball game. In 2023, Joe competed in the World Pizza Games at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas and took home the 2nd place prize in the Northwest region for his famous Korean BBQ pork belly pizza. Joe is also the first-place winner of the largest dough stretch.
All these accolades and claims to fame, and Joe’s advice is simple: Focus on time and temperature to make a great slice. Don’t overcomplicate it; keep it simple and high quality, and the people will come in droves.
“Everything we do, we try to have the highest quality and the best customer experience,” Joe said. From hiring an ambitious, loyal staff to focusing on hard work and doing what you love — that’s what Joe believes people will remember most.
“It’s a fun business and we’ve created amazing, gourmet, complex pizzas but our menu is simple. It’s fun, it’s not real hard, you get to see the creation come out of the oven. You get to see the reaction of people eating it and ask them ‘How’s the slice?’”
Serving the community is the foundation of who Joe and his family are. Ranger Joe’s is a local favorite and continues to grow as more people come through its doors each year.
If you’re in the Kalispell area, be sure to stop in at Ranger Joe’s for a slice of the New York-style honey bear or Joe’s personal favorite, the Margarita-inspired Sicilian deep dish. Don’t forget to taste that famous cheese bread, too!
Whether you’re visiting Kalispell for a day trip, a family vacation, or anything in between… Ranger Joe’s is a must-stop on your itinerary. After all, adventure is not complete without pizza!
Learn More About Ranger Joe’s Pizza
To learn more about Ranger Joe and his story, visit Ranger Joe’s Pizza. If you’re in the Kalispell area, be sure to stop in for a slice!
Visit their Instagram or Facebook for behind-the-scenes information, shop details, and more.
Be sure to tune into the podcast, Pizzy Story Podcast, for our next shop feature, on YouTube.
