Hey, it’s Alex,
For those who don’t know, I’ve been in the pizza industry for 17 years.
I started as a delivery driver in 2008. In 2017, after a decade of hard work, I became the owner of Purgatory Pizza.
But nothing can truly prepare you for what being an “owner” entails—the responsibilities, the unexpected problems, the stress. Taxes, building maintenance, partnership challenges, permitting, new legislation—it all becomes your problem.
Through my years at Purgatory, I shed plenty of tears and still wished I knew more. I wanted to understand what a full restaurant build-out required. After years of ownership, I thought I had a solid grasp on things until Hot Tongue came along and shattered everything I thought I knew.
The build-out alone was a brutal, two-year process that I probably still need therapy for. Getting this restaurant off the ground has been far harder than I ever expected.
I’ve made a lot of mistakes many of the ones people warn you about and it’s taken a toll on both my mental health and my business.
But you can’t go back.
You have to figure it out and keep moving forward.
The biggest difference over the past three years compared to the 14 before?
I’ve realized I don’t have to do it alone. I can call my buddy Marc when I need advice or be there for my friend Odie when he needs some hands for pizza making.
I’ve made more connections in this industry, shared my story with hundreds, and hopefully saved others from making the same mistakes I did.
The journey is still an uphill battle. I’m not in a place of comfort yet.
Just because my bank account doesn’t reflect “success” doesn’t mean I’m not successful. I have so much to be grateful for, so much to learn, and so much to give.
Three years fly by fast, and I know the next three will be very different from the last.
I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read these thoughts, who reaches out, and who continues to push me to be better.
Community and connection have always been what I’ve sought, and over the past three years, that’s exactly what I’ve found.
That’s what’s really important to me.
“Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.”
— Brian Solis
Family has always been the priority, even before Hot Tongue opened.
Sacrificing time often means sacrificing money, but I know that 30 years from now, I won’t look back and think, “I wish I had worked more.”
Watching my son grow up while seeing the restaurant evolve has been nothing short of surreal. I’m incredibly grateful for where I am and for the people who surround me.