“Who doesn’t like pizza?” From our first exchange, Scott Sandler brought fun energy and positive vibes throughout this week’s episode of Pizza Story.
A Jersey boy who found himself in St. Louis in the late 2010s, Scott Sandler brings a versatile career and lifetime of experience to the podcast this week. Let’s jump in!
Meet Scott Sandler & His Rise to the Top
For 25 years, Scott Sandler has been a self-taught pizza maker. He began making pizza as a hobby at home and fell in love with the process of using the wood-fired oven and the taste of the pies he was creating. It’s clear that he would never look back.
With a business background and after pursuing various career paths, Scott finally committed to turning his hobby and love for pizza into a career when he moved to St. Louis in 2013.
After owning two successful local pizzerias, including St. Louis’s first all-vegetarian pizzeria, Scott stumbled into the opportunity to buy Pizza Via in St. Louis with a close family member.
He’s built Pizza Via from the ground up and feels proud of how far his shop has come since its opening. The shop’s most popular menu item is a wood-fired spinach pie with fresh mozzarella… we’re drooling at the thought of it!
When we wanted to know what he thought about the latest trends in pizza, Scott explained, “I’m more of an old-school pizza guy. As long as you have quality, fresh ingredients, everyone’s going to love the pizza.”
Most importantly, we asked Scott if pineapple belongs on pizza. His response: “Anyone can put anything on a pizza. I don’t have any qualms with pineapple, just not too much of it. I don’t love it, but I would sell it!”
Guiding the Next Generation of Pizzeria Owners
With his business experience and knowledge in tow, Scott is a regular Pizza Expo speaker, where he holds seminars and discussions about the business side of pizza. He loves teaching the next generation of business owners how to run their businesses, all about profit margins, strategy, and more.
Sharing his knowledge and connecting with other pizza lovers around the globe is a hugely rewarding experience for Scott, and he attributes it to his personal growth as a business owner.
What’s Next For Scott Sandler & Pizza
Starting a pizza restaurant anywhere can be quite challenging. In Scott’s words, “Ask anybody in this business about training employees and retainment – getting them to execute your vision is the most challenging thing in this business.” Scott successfully overcame those hurdles and is determined to help a new generation of pizza owners to get on the road to success.
With so much experience in business and the restaurant industry, Scott is hoping to pursue consulting other owners. “Anyone can make a great pizza but that is only a small part of it,” says Scott. Just for that reason, his passion lies in helping shop owners with staffing, payroll, profitability, and logistics to grow and scale their businesses.
There are so many moving parts when it comes to owning a business, especially a pizza shop, and Scott feels compelled to share his knowledge with those who are getting started.
Learn more about Pizza Via
It was a pleasure speaking with Scott about his personal experience in pizza-making, business, and his passions. To learn more about Pizza Via and Scott Sandler, visit their Facebook page or check out their Instagram.
Be also sure to visit our YouTube channel to watch all the podcast episodes.