How I got into the pizza business!
A lot of people ask me how I ended up serving the finest pizza in Flagstaff. I am a pilot by trade, and I am originally from Spain contrary to the assumption that I am from Italy. Somehow the avatars of life brought to Flagstaff and into the restaurant business. When I was little my uncle, whom used to travel the world in his freight ship, was a self appointed pizza pundit. He would grab by my shoulders and yell at me with a thick sailor's voice; "Leo, the best pizza in the world is not in Italy but in New york, and the serve huge slices too". That is probably my earliest childhood memory. When I learned the Roma Pizza previous owners wanted out it brought a smile to my face and I decided to buy right there and them. I did not do any research or homework, for which I would later pay dearly. I just wanted to run my own authentic New York style pizzeria.
The first few years were very difficult, my brother moved from New York to run the restaurant for me. Had it not been for him I would not have made it. I was still working full time as a pilot and trying to run the restaurant. Little by little things got better, over a few years we doubled the sales for the original store on Milton and now we have recently opened a new store on Route 66 (3504 East Route 66, Park Santa Fe Shopping Center).
The restaurant business is arguably the hardest endeavor you get involved in, but it certainly is the most rewarding. I have made countless friends and met people from the most remote parts of the world.
The first few years were very difficult, my brother moved from New York to run the restaurant for me. Had it not been for him I would not have made it. I was still working full time as a pilot and trying to run the restaurant. Little by little things got better, over a few years we doubled the sales for the original store on Milton and now we have recently opened a new store on Route 66 (3504 East Route 66, Park Santa Fe Shopping Center).
The restaurant business is arguably the hardest endeavor you get involved in, but it certainly is the most rewarding. I have made countless friends and met people from the most remote parts of the world.
Leo - having moved to Flagstaff in 1996 from New Jersey, I immediately fell in love with Roma. I have been a patron ever since. Recently, however, you changed the venue at your Milton store. The old system of walking in, placing your order and then sitting down to wait has been changed to sitting and waiting to be waited on. Well, my first experience with this system was not a good one. We entered at 11:55 and had to sit in the second dining room. He came over with the menus and got us our drinks and then promptly forgot about us. My wife and I watched 2 new parties come in and get waited on and 2 Take-out orders come in and order before we could get his attention. Please return to the old method, first come, first served. It has worked fine all these years. Thank you
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Hello Carl
Thank you for your comment. I have just started the full service system. Servers now will seat down the customers and take their orders. I do recognize this system has some problems to be worked out. It is my belief however that having servers will improve customer service, which is my ultimate goal. I do apologize for the delay caused to you and your family. I welcome another comment about your next experience at any of Roma Pizza stores. Let me know if you have the same problem again so that I can work on it.
Leo Ruiz, Owner
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Yo Sup Leo this is DArnell Heck yeah Roma Pizza is Good hah epecially the Wings tell Joey and Rhonda i said hi and take care of Nickolas
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Leo, como va esto del Blog? Y como van los deep dish y las salsas? Un abrazo y muchos animos.
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Leo,
I had a chance to stop at your new East side location and was blown away. Still the great same pizza as always, with a great atmosphere and excellent service. Great job on keeping up the tradition that Roma's has provided for all these years.
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