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Building a Pizza Empire with Joey Karvelas
Description
In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with the energetic and inspiring Joey Karvelas, co-founder of Karvelas Pizza Company. Joey shares the story of how he turned a $19,000 investment into a growing pizza empire across Georgia.
From humble beginnings in a run-down pizza shop to running six locations and planning more, Joey’s story is packed with hard-earned wisdom, personal growth, and real-life lessons for any aspiring pizzeria owner. They talk team building, menu development, delivery strategy, the power of community involvement, and even the role of faith and sobriety in Joey’s success.
This episode is a masterclass in what it really takes to build something from the ground up in the restaurant world.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
How Joey turned his dad’s old pizza shop into a multi-store brand
Why working hard is your resume (even before you have one)
How quitting alcohol and trusting God became his secret weapon
What happens when you open 7 days a week in a better location (hint: triple the sales!)
How they expanded down the I-85 corridor—on purpose or by accident?
Joey’s formula for high lunch sales and his 11,000 orders/month chicken bites
Why second-gen spaces aren’t always the “deal” they seem to be
Delivery, catering, AI tools, and other smart pivots in the business
Why “Go Do” is his best advice for new operators
🎵 The Karvelas Pizza Co. Theme Song?
"Turn Down for What" – Lil Jon
Because Joey and the team go hard, every day. No chill. No excuses.
🔗 Resources & Links:
Want to grow your pizza shop with better systems, better leadership, and real operator conversations?
Join Pizza Pro Circle.
It’s a free community for pizzeria owners, operators, and managers who want practical ideas they can use in the shop.
We talk about sales, marketing, leadership, team development, operations, and the real work of running a better pizzeria.
Join us here:
https://www.skool.com/tyrells-group-9324/about
Free Tools and Courses for Pizzeria Owners & Managers
Email: info@tyrellreed.com
Upcoming events and appearances:
California Restaurant Show August 24-26