Big Dave’s always closed early on Christmas Eve (6 p.m.) so that my crew could get home and enjoy their family time. The key word here is family....
Author Profile
Dave Ostrander
Big Dave Ostrander owned a highly successful independent pizzeria before becoming a consultant, speaker and internationally sought-after trainer.
Dave Ostrander's Recent Articles
2009 November: A Pizza My Mind
Just over half of my gross sales came from home and business deliveries. Over the years, we stumbled on a few ideas that made us stand out from the...
2009 October: A Pizza My Mind
I’m a big believer in measuring how much time it takes to complete almost every task in the restaurant. If you determine how long a task takes, then...
2009 August: A Pizza My Mind
Independent operators get a failing grade on a huge issue: They do not have readable financial statements. For the moment, I won’t even consider the...
2009 June: A Pizza My Mind
A few months ago, I had the pleasure of spending a few days with a client, Carl Hixon. Carl is the proprietor of Georgio’s Pizza in Pensacola,...
2009 July: A Pizza My Mind
One of my first assignments as a consultant was to implement a turnaround for a group of pizzerias. They were hanging on by a thread. They had...
2009 May: A Pizza My Mind
The pizza business is currently drifting in unchartered waters. The old model of making, baking and serving a praiseworthy pizza with a smile just...
2009 April: A Pizza My Mind
When trying to figure out what it will cost you to open a new pizzeria, it’s important to remember that your menu offerings will determine your...
2009 March: Start Up Tips
I have opened seven restaurants for myself and at least 30 more for clients in my career. The last one to open was last August in Ohio. I’ve...