Who wants to open a pizzaria?

[Rick]

Hey guys, I want to open a pizzeria. see NYSAUCE Dream in this Topic. I am keeping somewhat of a journal of how I'm going about it. Still slow in the process though. I am coming from a computer background but am too tired of working for people and would rather put the long hours in something I love to do. Good luck all

Hallo... I could have written the exact same things about my life....
I live in Rome  and work in IT field but I'm bored to death of this kind of life.
I love pizza (I can make a good one) and I love USA and it would be my dream to live and work anywhere in US, especially in hospitality/food preparation/pizza making field.....
My passioni is so great tha in late September I'll attend one of the best food school in Italy called Gambero Rosso (U can find their books anywhere here in Italy and probably even worldwide) to specialize in pizza making and then I'll try to have chance to work in USA....
On the 30th of December I'll be in NYC for about 10 days (it should be a vacation) and probably I'll try to ask around if there is any italian restaurant who need an italian guy in the kitchen...
Just to make U understand my passion, I'm not a desperado seeking something to live, I have a very good work here, a home 3 km from the Coliseum , a car, a motorbike and everything to have a good life here.
But I want to change my life totally and work in something that I like.... and live in US.

Sorry for my bad english.... 

Bye

Rick

[Bill/CDMX]

On the 30th of December I'll be in NYC for about 10 days (it should be a vacation) and probably I'll try to ask around if there is any italian restaurant who need an italian guy in the kitchen...

Rick,
I admire your passion and I hope your dream to work here comes true. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be aware that getting work here also requires the proper government permits (see http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/ead.htm). Since 9/11, it can be much harder, even for those with special skills that would benefit the USA and who have businesses willing to sponsor them.

Some critical occupations with shortages such as nursing are given priority, but there is so much bad pizza in this country, that I think expert pizza makers should also be given priority. 

Regardless of immigration issues, your chances of be hired here in a restaurant would be much greater if you had professional restaurant experience, the more the better.

Good luck!

Bill/SFNM

[Rick]

Rick,
I admire your passion and I hope your dream to work here comes true. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be aware that getting work here also requires the proper government permits (see http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/ead.htm). Since 9/11, it can be much harder, even for those with special skills that would benefit the USA and who have businesses willing to sponsor them.

Some critical occupations with shortages such as nursing are given priority, but there is so much bad pizza in this country, that I think expert pizza makers should also be given priority. 

Regardless of immigration issues, your chances of be hired here in a restaurant would be much greater if you had professional restaurant experience, the more the better.

Good luck!

Bill/SFNM

Hi  Bill, thanks for your support.
I'know everything regarding immigration issues and I know full well how difficult it is to get a Visa to live and work in US ( I'm speaking of at least an H1-B or a Green Card, 'cause  non immigrant visas are a little more easy to get), but I'm stubborn and I'll find a way to let my dream come true.
i know that it's very important to get some papers, that's why I'm going to attend a class of pizza making from Gambero Rosso's school (one of the best in Italy) and then I'll try to make some experience in Rome's restaurants.... I can already prepare many delicious italian dishes and a good pizza but it semms like that papers are considered better thant experience (worldiwide not only in US)
Anyway I'll keep U updated on my progress ....
Bye and thanks

Rick

[durbancic]

Hi guys, I am a new guy here.

Wow! You are all very naieve. Running a pizza shop is not as profitable as many of you guys think. Yes dough and sauce are relatively cheap. But I run a Hungry Howie's Pizza in Canton, OH and you guys are up in the clouds. Cheese is the most expensive part of the pizza, by far! We use 100% motzarella, so it is more expensive than most, but a large cheese pizza: dough, sauce, and cheese costs us $1.66 to make. $1.33 of that being the cheese!!! Vegetable toppings and pepperoni are realatively cheap toppings, but bacon is a real expensive one, along with some of the other meats. Now, the food cost for most of our pizzas runs around 25%. This is a realatively low number. Other products we sell, wings (50%), subs (35%), salads (40%), pop (50%), do not have such a good food cost. averaging our products out, over a month, our food and paper cost comes out to be 33% of profits. Add another 23% onto that for labor and you are at:
33%+23%= 56% of profits used already.
Now add on to that overhead.
1 months rent $1500 (in a relatively high-traffic area).
+water+electric+gas+franchise fees+Advertising (5%-10%)+insurance for delivery drivers $3000+loan payments+etc. etc. etc.
I think you get my drift. Profit is approximately 10%-15% on a shop, if it is successful and run correctly. I am not trying to discourage you  guys, I just would like you to correcly analyze this before dreaming about it too much.


-dan

[David]

Hi Rick,
           I would suggest you get a job in Italy with one of the major Hotel Corporations such as Hilton,Marriot,Inter Continental.That way you'll have the support of a major company and all of its power and opportunities available to you.They often move people around to gain experience and broaden their culinary repertoire.New York is full of Italian Chefs,so it would be relatively easy for you to network.I came to this country as an illegal,and found it relatively easy as English is my mother tongue,but I still would not reccomend it.BTW have you tried Stefano's Pizza in Tivoli?Last time I was there,I hopped on a train from Rome to visit him (he's right opposite Tivoli Station) and is very passionate about Neapolitan Pizza.Good luck,
                                                      David

[Rick]

Hi Rick,
           I would suggest you get a job in Italy with one of the major Hotel Corporations such as Hilton,Marriot,Inter Continental.That way you'll have the support of a major company and all of its power and opportunities available to you.They often move people around to gain experience and broaden their culinary repertoire.New York is full of Italian Chefs,so it would be relatively easy for you to network.I came to this country as an illegal,and found it relatively easy as English is my mother tongue,but I still would not reccomend it.BTW have you tried Stefano's Pizza in Tivoli?Last time I was there,I hopped on a train from Rome to visit him (he's right opposite Tivoli Station) and is very passionate about Neapolitan Pizza.Good luck,
                                                      David

Hi David thanks for your advice, it's a way worth exploring for sure.....

Never been to Stefan's Pizza in Tivoli but since It's only half an hour away from Rome I could go to taste his pizza and have a talk very soon....

Before applying for any Major Company's position I want to complete my pizza class and get some experience in a pizzeria not to big so I have the time to learn the practice after I've learned the Theory.... a lot of manuality is involved in pizza amking and only working in "the field" I can aquire it.....
Thanks

Rick