Bear Silber co-owns Pizza Social gathering, a one-store operation in Santa Clara, California. As soon as a Pizza Social gathering buyer, Silber, age 26, is within the course of of shopping for the property from the couple that beforehand owned the pizzeria. At this level, they’re equal companions within the enterprise.
PT: What made you wish to purchase a pizzeria?
BS: I’ve all the time wished to do one thing within the culinary discipline. I’ve accomplished numerous totally different jobs prior to now: I’ve tutored; I’ve been a P.E. coach, a plumber, a carpenter. I’ve accomplished advertising and marketing and Net design. I used to be at some extent the place I wished to settle right into a profession. I’ve by no means been classically educated and it was getting a little bit late for me to go to culinary faculty, so I appeared round at locations I may become involved with with out having that coaching. I checked out ice cream parlors, delis, doughnut retailers and pizza parlors. I settled on pizza as a result of it has a household environment and you’ve got individuals sitting round for some time and hanging out in your pizzeria. In an ice cream parlor, they keep perhaps quarter-hour after which depart.
PT: Have you ever made any modifications since shopping for in to Pizza Social gathering final fall?
BS: I’ve made numerous modifications. I got here in right here and redid the Website and brand. I wished to alter the title, nevertheless it was already modified just a few years in the past and you’ll’t proceed to alter the title on a regular basis. However Pizza Social gathering does symbolize what we do. I additionally redid the menu, each the gadgets and the graphics.
PT: What gadgets did you add or drop from the menu?
BS: I dropped little or no, if something. However we added wraps they usually’re doing very nicely. We additionally added jalapeño poppers and root beer fl oats, and we’re going so as to add artisan pies quickly. We’ve specialty pizzas, however I wish to take a three-tiered strategy and supply the common sausage and pepperoni pizzas, the specialties like veggie or BBQ hen, after which have the artisan pizzas. I’ve been taking child steps and nonetheless have a methods to go, however daily I attempt to do some one thing totally different.
PT: Why didn’t the poor financial system deter you from getting concerned in pizzeria possession?
BS: I had no thought about that. I obtained to the purpose in my life the place I didn’t have a profession and I actually wished to make one for myself. It was the suitable time for me personally. I didn’t wish to wait two years till the financial system obtained higher. Take a look at McDonald’s. They’re doing nice proper now. Even on this financial system, somebody goes to do nicely.
PT: You’re actually into advertising and marketing by the social networking websites, aren’t you?
BS: Sure. I’m doing lots with Yelp and Twitter. The day after the Tremendous Bowl, I obtained on Twitter and supplied a free mini pizza to the primary one that got here into the pizzeria carrying a Steelers jersey. I’ve put up trivia questions and given the primary individual to reply with the right reply a small pizza –– issues like that. It’s not fairly driving in individuals but. I feel it’ll take a while to catch on. However, when you consider it, what number of thousands and thousands of individuals are there on Fb? It’s gradual to come back round, however you’ll see individuals constructing on it increasingly. It’s enjoyable to get a dialogue began along with your clients.
