Our Story

For over 20 years, owning a pizza shop sat quietly in the back of my mind like a dream that refused to let go. The road to getting here wasn’t easy though. There was a time in my life when I was on disability, living in constant pain, and honestly felt like my whole world had shattered. I didn’t know what my future would look like, and I definitely never imagined I’d end up here after everything I had been through.

But life has a funny way of bringing things full circle.

What started as one small step slowly turned into something bigger than I ever could have imagined. When I look around Pizza Pie Hole now, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for my family, my friends, and the incredible community that welcomed us with open arms and helped bring this dream to life. Every day feels like another full-circle moment.

I was knocked down hard by life, but with the help of my husband, we rebuilt this life together from the ground up. Through every setback, every doubt, and every difficult day, he never stopped believing in me — even when I struggled to believe in myself. Truthfully, his faith in me is a huge part of why Pizza Pie Hole exists today.

Another huge part of this journey has been my mentor, Bob Brown. More than 20 years ago, I worked in his pizza shop where he taught me how to make pizza. Back then, when I was just a teenager, he actually tried to sell me his shop because he believed in me that much. Even then, he saw something in me I couldn’t yet see in myself. No matter where life took me after that, Bob never stopped encouraging me to open my own place. Through all the years he kept reminding me that one day I’d do this for myself. Now all these years later, life came full circle again — and today he’s standing beside me making pizzas in my own shop.

Then another small moment changed everything.

Every single day for months, I drove past a local pizza shop with a sign outside saying they were hiring pizza makers. I had to try. I missed making pizzas! After being out of work for six years on disability, I finally worked up the courage to walk inside and ask if they’d hire me… even just for one day.

They said yes.

That one decision completely changed my life.

The man who hired me became one of my close friends and is now my pizza maker at Pizza Pie Hole — Pat Barry from @patsworld on TikTok. Pat has built a community of more than 44,000 followers by spreading kindness and making pizzas, and now he and his wife Sarah are part of this journey with us every single day. Pizza Pie Hole truly became a family business run by families.

What sets us apart from other shops is that we built Pizza Pie Hole around inclusion, creativity, and community. I have what I like to call an “underground menu” with several gluten-sensitive and vegan options because I know firsthand what it feels like to struggle finding food options that work for you. (I also have celiacs )We also smoke and air fry our wings instead of deep frying them, which gives them a flavor and texture people don’t expect from a pizza shop.

What makes our story unique isn’t just the pizza — it’s the people behind it.

We built this business through second chances, friendship, resilience, and community. We created a shop where customers feel like family, where kindness matters just as much as the food, and where creativity and personality are part of the experience.

As a woman-owned business, I hope our story encourages other people — especially women who feel overlooked, stuck, or afraid to start over — to realize it’s never too late to chase something bigger.

One of the greatest parts of this journey has been letting my children watch my dreams come true in real time. They watched me go from being sick and uncertain about my future to building somethin g from the ground up surrounded by the people I love most.

Pizza Pie Hole isn’t just a pizza shop.

It’s proof that sometimes the life you thought was over is actually just getting started.