The Real Talk Every Pizza Shop Owner Needs to Hear—From Audrey Kelly

In this episode, we're live from the Pizza Expo with Audrey Kelly, founder of Audrey Jane’s Pizza Garage. Audrey is a member of the U.S. Pizza Team, a seasoned competitor, and an inspiring voice in the pizza industry. We dive into how she built her business, navigated the chaos of COVID, raised twins, and found balance in a family-run pizzeria.

She opens up about burnout, staffing, staying motivated, and what it's really like being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Whether you run a shop or dream of one, this episode is packed with insights and relatable real talk.

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📌 Follow Audrey:
Instagram: @ajpizzagarage
Website: www.audreyjanespizzagarage.com

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 - Intro: Live from the Pizza Expo
00:57 - Catching Up with Audrey Kelly
01:12 - Raising Twins While Running a Business
02:02 - Kids in the Shop: Growing Up Around Pizza
02:59 - Parenting in the Pizza Industry
03:49 - Women in Pizza: Audrey’s Perspective
05:10 - How COVID Became a Business Boom
06:03 - Fast-Casual Format & Delivery Success
06:22 - New York vs. Sicilian: Pizza Styles That Travel
06:37 - U.S. Pizza Team & Constant Learning
07:26 - Rebuilding Staff After Parenthood
08:01 - Bringing Her Team to Pizza Expo
09:24 - Should You Close Your Shop for an Expo?
10:34 - Family Balance vs. Business Growth
11:58 - Getting Started with Tony Gemignani
13:00 - Social Media & Handling Public Feedback
14:10 - Running the Shop with Her Brother
16:02 - Why Audrey Stepped Back for Her Kids
18:04 - Knowing When to Pause Expansion Plans
20:00 - Real Talk: Regrets, Lessons & Resetting
22:29 - Where to Follow Audrey Online
23:44 - Best Tip to Avoid Bad Online Reviews
25:12 - Outro & What’s Next on the Podcast

More From The Slice Community:
The Sauce: https://slice.com/community
Facebook: https://fb.com/slicepizzaapp
Owners Group:   / pizzashopownersforum  

Slice believes that local pizzerias deserve all the advantages of big chains without compromising their independence. Slice puts technology, marketing, buying power, and support to work for these shops, empowering owners to build profitable businesses and remain at the heart of our communities. Learn more at slice.com.