104 Years of Famous Subs & Italian Tradition: The Story of Leone’s Market in Windber | Ep 74

104 Years of Famous Subs & Italian Tradition: The Story of Leone’s Market in Windber | Ep 74

If you’ve read my book, you already know that my heart belongs to the East End of Windber, Pennsylvania. You also probably know about the legendary cornerstone of my childhood where my family spent almost every single Saturday morning: Leone’s Italian Market 🇮🇹. Literally my entire life, Saturday morning started with my grandmother saying, "Call Rhoda and go down to Leone's and get a sub." Decades later, nothing has changed. When I go home today, my dad still looks at us on Saturday morning and asks the exact same thing. That is the magic of a truly generational business, and today, I am sitting down with the incredible Vicki Hiteshew, the woman keeping that 104-year-old legacy alive and thriving ❤️. In this episode, Vicki takes us behind the counter and back in time to 1922, sharing the deeply moving, gritty history of how her family built an empire on hard work, love, and community. We talk about her legendary grandmother, Rhoda Leone, who holds the record as the store's longest-running employee, working an unbelievable 78 years from the age of 17 until she passed away at 95. Vicki shares the heartbreaking and inspiring pivot points of the business, including how Rhoda was widowed tragically young and how she and her sister clung together to make the market survive because it just had to work 🙌🏽. We also laugh about how the world-famous sub business actually started completely by accident in the late 1950s (selling just five sandwiches on day one!), how the East End businesses like Leone’s, D'Arc's Pizza, and Rizzo's share a beautiful neighborhood camaraderie. If you love family traditions, small-town history, and food, you are going to absolutely love this episode 🍕🇮🇹. 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ 00:01 - Erica introduces Vicki and the legendary childhood staple that is Leone’s Market. ✅ 00:30 - A Lifetime of Saturday Traditions: Erica and Vicki talk about the generational handoff of the Saturday morning sub ritual. ✅ 01:18 - 104 Years and Counting: The origin of the store, shifting from a general store in 1900 to family hands in 1922. ✅ 02:04 - How Leone’s, D'Arc's Pizza, and Rizzo’s all evolved from neighborhood markets into local institutions. ✅ 05:18 - 78 Years Behind the Counter: Remembering Rhoda’s unbelievable work ethic, working 12-hour days, 6 days a week. ✅ 06:39 - The First 5 Subs: The accidental, late-1950s origin story of Leone's world-famous sandwiches. ✅ 16:47 - Cutting a Hole in the Wall: The incredible, spontaneous story of buying the old Marinelli Hardware building to create a new seating area. ✅ 22:19 - Remembering Erica’s grandpa making his famous (and incredibly hot!) peppers. ✅ 23:15 - The Candy Corner Destination: Tearing down the old Anderson building, bringing back nostalgia for adults, and making Windber a true destination. ✅ 27:05 - The "World Famous" Sign: The 30-year-old lighted sign that still draws in truck drivers from states away. 🔗 Connect with Leone's Market Instagram: @leonesmarket Facebook: Leone's Market [https://www.facebook.com/]  (The best place to follow Vicki's nostalgic posts, check out historic photos, and send a message!) 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/  #italian #italianamerican #italianmarket

The Italian Market to Hollywood: Making Movies & Eating Pizza with Vinny from South Philly | Ep 73

You probably know him from your social media feeds as "Vinny from South Philly," but Vincenzo Manetti is so much more than a viral video. He’s an award-winning filmmaker, a gritty actor, and the host of the incredible podcast Inside Hollywood with Vinny ⭐️. In this episode, we are throwing it back to where it all began: the pavement of Washington Avenue and the heart of the South Philly Italian Market. Vince opens up about his childhood as a first-generation kid with Calabrian roots, eating everything from fresh-market mussels to traditional tripe 🇮🇹. We track his journey from the East Coast all the way to Beverly Hills where he accidentally fell into the Hollywood restaurant scene, serving everyone from Schwarzenegger to Stallone, and caught the storytelling bug. But you can't have a South Philly guy on the show without talking about the real fuel behind the art: the food. We get into the ultimate Philly pizza debate. Vince breaks down why he’ll always love a thick, doughy, bakery-style square slice, and we swap stories on a local phenomenon putting white American cheese on a pizza 🍕. Turns out, my family's secret pizzeria recipe and the legendary Philly "Pizazz" pie have a whole lot more in common than you'd think! From the legendary giant slices at Lorenzo’s to neighborhood institutions like Vetri and Stogie Joe’s, this episode is a love letter to the evolution of the Philly food scene. ❤️ This conversation is authentic, hilarious, and guaranteed to make you hungry. Grab a slice, hit subscribe, and let’s dive in! 🎙 Episode Highlights:  ✅ 00:01 – Welcome Vince Minniti ("Vinny from South Philly")! ✅ 02:35 – Celebrating the international success of Washington Avenue. ✅ 04:34 – Nostalgic childhood eats: Five-dollar mussels and Sarcones bakery bread. ✅ 06:45 – Vince's definitive South Philly cheesesteak spots. ✅ 08:53 – Using social media to launch a movie & the hustle behind a heist film. ✅ 12:44 – The Philly Pizza Debate: Thick dough, proper sauce, and no oregano. ✅ 14:40 – The American Cheese Secret: The "Pizazz" pie vs. the Diarc’s original. ✅ 19:15 – Checking out the local checklist: Badilla, Vetri, and Stogie Joe’s. 📢 About Our Guest Known to hundreds of thousands of loyal fans across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok as @vinny_from_south_philly Vince Minniti is a dynamic, multidimensional force in the entertainment industry. While his viral social media presence is undeniable, Minniti’s footprint extends far beyond the digital screen. As an actor, screenwriter, producer, and independent filmmaker, he is a serial creator who has built a career grounded in gritty authenticity and premium storytelling. His creative vision was cemented with his acclaimed short film, Washington Avenue, which took the festival circuit by storm and secured 12 first-place awards worldwide. Building on that momentum, Minniti is currently developing the highly anticipated crime drama series, The Old Guard, alongside veteran actor and producer Joe Cortese. Beyond his work behind and in front of the camera, Minniti seamlessly bridges the gap between audiences and industry veterans. As the host of the popular YouTube show and podcast, Inside Hollywood with Vinny, he sits down with industry heavyweights for candid interviews, offering viewers an unfiltered look into the business of entertainment. His episodes with Antonio Sabato Jr., Brandi Roderick, Louis Lombardi, Gianni Russo, George Gallo, Joe Cortese, Larry Namer, Frank Stallone, and the late Michael Madsen. 🔗 Connect with Vinny from South Philly  👉 YouTube Show "Inside Hollywood with Vinny": https://youtube.com/@VinnyfromSouthPhilly?si=aK5YpWT278RBkiD5 [https://youtube.com/@VinnyfromSouthPhilly?si=aK5YpWT278RBkiD5] 🎬 Watch Vinny’s award-winning short film "Washington Avenue" free: https://youtu.be/WXbghicK7zM?si=gRUSP_NV7cixlLbT [https://youtu.be/WXbghicK7zM?si=gRUSP_NV7cixlLbT] 📸 Instagram: @vinny_from_south_philly  👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vince.anthony.980?mibextid=LQQJ4d [https://www.facebook.com/vince.anthony.980?mibextid=LQQJ4d] 🎵 TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@vinnyfromsouthphilly [https://www.tiktok.com/@vinnyfromsouthphilly] 🎥 IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm15372159/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 [https://m.imdb.com/name/nm15372159/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1]

Building a Pizza Empire: The Story Behind Square Pie Guys + Creative Force @Pizza | Ep 72

Every once in a while, you meet someone whose story reminds you that life’s biggest left turns usually lead exactly where you’re supposed to go. For me, as someone who grew up watching my grandfather turn a life in the coal mines into a family pizza business back in 1960, I’ve always known that pizza is so much more than just food. It’s legacy, it’s comfort, and sometimes, it's a lifeline ♥️. That is exactly what I felt talking to today’s guest, the brilliant mind behind Square Pie Guys and the creative curator of the Internet’s most iconic food page @pizza Marc Schechter 🍕. Long before Marc was feeding the West Coast or dictating viral food trends to millions of followers, he was just a kid from New York with a marketing degree and a completely blank roadmap. His path to the kitchen wasn't paved with culinary school or family recipes; it was forged in the fires of cold calling. Marc spent years in the brutal trenches of software sales, dialing the phone 100 times a day, weathering a relentless storm of "no." Little did he know, learning to navigate that constant rejection was the ultimate training camp for entrepreneurship. But the true spark didn't ignite until Marc moved to California. On a casual moving day, a close friend handed him a pizza cookbook, a stone, and a peel with a challenge: “You can’t make restaurant-quality pizza at home.” Those words unlocked an obsession. Soon, Marc was spending hours watching dough rise, throwing backyard pizza parties, and finding a deep sense of joy in feeding people. When his tech startup vanished overnight, Marc didn't look for another corporate desk. He chose the kitchen 👨🏻‍🍳. The empire we know today as Square Pie Guys actually started by complete accident. Armed with only three Detroit-style pans he was using to test recipes, Marc was put on the spot to feed a couple scouting a wedding venue. They fell so madly in love with the thick, crispy square pies that they hired him on the spot. That single quote paid for his first 30 pans, launched a wildly successful pop-up, and eventually led to opening his first brick-and-mortar shop in downtown San Francisco in July 2019. In this beautiful, candid conversation, Marc pulls back the curtain on the magic and the grit of his journey. We talk about how he literally slid into the DMs of a major media company to take over the @pizza brand, the "algorithmic luck" that allowed his business to survive and thrive through a global pandemic, and the deeply personal way pizza healed him after a painful life transition 🙌🏽. 🔗 Connect: Follow Square Pie Guys on Instagram: @squarepieguys Follow the ultimate pizza community: @pizza  🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. From secret family recipes to the wild journeys of building a pizza empire, we share the authentic, messy, and delicious stories behind every perfect slice. 🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode with the world's most passionate pizza makers ♥️! Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/  Subscribe to the channel for more incredible stories from founders who took their hobbies to the big leagues! #pizza #squarepieguys

Inside Paulie Gee’s Journey: Corporate IT to NYC Pizza Icon | Ep 71

Have you ever sat at your corporate desk, stared at the glowing monitor, and realized you were exhausting your energy to build someone else’s dream instead of your own 😫? Today’s guest took that exact terrifying, exhilarating leap, except he did it at 56 years old, after 30 years in the corporate IT world. He walked away from the safety of a steady paycheck to open what would quickly become an absolute Brooklyn institution 🙌🏽. In this episode of The Pizza Story Podcast, I’m sitting down with the ultimate pizza artisan, a true neighborhood legend, and a phenomenal storyteller, Paulie Gee 🍕. Paulie takes us on an incredible, deeply personal journey through his life. We talk about growing up in Kensington, Brooklyn, in a vibrant Italian-Jewish household where Sunday dinners were sacred, and how a childhood obsession was born out of simply being denied a Friday night slice. He opens up about hitting the "not-a-geek glass ceiling" in the tech world, the mindset shift it took to break free, and how a backyard DIY brick oven with a strict Thanksgiving deadline changed the trajectory of his entire life. We pull back the curtain on the grueling reality of the restaurant industry. From the harrowing early days in Greenpoint operating without a liquor license, to overflowing dough emergencies, to the beautiful moment the local pizza community stepped in to save his friends-and-family night. Paulie also explains the genius behind his legendary 1960s-style Slice Shop, sharing why great traditional pizza is exactly like vinyl records: a nostalgic, analog experience that a whole new generation is hungry for. Whether you're a die-hard pizza enthusiast, a budding entrepreneur, or someone sitting in a cubicle right now wondering if it's too late to start over, Paulie’s story is a masterclass in courage. It is living proof that we all have seeds of greatness within us, and it is never, ever too late to build your best life 💪🏼. 🔗 Connect with Paulie & Support the Shops Follow Paulie Gee on Instagram: @pauliegee [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/pauliegee&authuser=1] Check out the 500+ Pizza Hat Collection: @pauliegeespizzaproject [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/pauliegeespizzaproject&authuser=1] Visit the Official Website: www.pauliegee.com [http://www.pauliegee.com/] Love a good comeback story? Make sure to hit that Subscribe button so you never miss an episode of The Pizza Story Podcast. Drop a comment below letting us know: What's the dream project you're waiting to speak into existence ❤️? 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers, dough geeks, and backyard hobbyists who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. From secret family recipes to the wild journeys of building a pizza empire, we share the authentic, messy, and delicious stories behind every perfect slice. 🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode with the world's most passionate pizza makers ♥️! Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993]  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/]  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #nypizza

From Deputy Head Teacher to Pizza Obsessed: The Story of the UK’s Pizza Inferno | Ep 70

Today, we are crossing the pond to chat with the incredible George Lambrou, co-founder of Pizza Inferno based out in the UK 🇬🇧. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a self-proclaimed non-pizza fan gets absolutely infected by the pizza-making bug, this episode is for you 🍕.  George takes us on his journey from being a deputy head teacher (the UK equivalent of a vice principal) to launching a roaring mobile pizza business with his brother, Tony.  From obsessing over fermentation science to traveling straight to the heart of Naples to get schooled by the masters, George’s story is a masterclass in turning a lockdown hobby into a burning passion. We talk about the literal "inferno" temperatures required to make a true Neapolitan slice, the hilarious (and messy) reality of early-stage pizza fails, what it's really like running a business with family, and how they are changing the mainstream pizza narrative across the UK. Grab a slice, hit that subscribe button, and let’s dive into today’s story ✨! 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ 00:31 George shares his background growing up in London in a food-loving Greek Cypriot family, his career in education, and the sudden shift in 2023 when he and his brother went all-in on pizza. ✅ 03:19 George breaks down his deep dive into the history of pizza, AVPN standards, hydration percentages, and the magic of pre-ferments like poolish and biga. ✅ 07:40 George gets vulnerable about his early-stage catastrophes: tearing dough, over-proofing disasters, and creating a few "Frankenstein monsters" along the way. ✅ 11:22 What’s in a Name? The Concept Behind "Inferno": Why temperature is everything. George explains the science of cooking at 450°C (842°F) plus, flash-cooking toppings, and getting that perfect leopard-spotted crust. ✅ 16:03 A tour of the Pizza Inferno menu, including how they balance respect for Neapolitan traditions with fun flavor profiles like Southern fried chicken and Cypriot tahini drizzles. ✅ 19:01 George shares his favorite part of the job—chasing that "wow" moment from guests—and discusses the expanding UK pizza scene and their mission to upskill home cooks with their new studio kitchen and magazine. ✅ 24:09 How to connect with the guys for events, check out their content, and grab a copy of their summer magazine. 🔗 Follow Pizza Inferno on Instagram: @pizzainferno.uk [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/pizzainferno.uk&authuser=2] 📚 Bookings & Magazine: Head to their website to check out the Pizza Inferno Magazine summer edition or secure a mobile booking for your private events (they are already booking into 2027!). 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers, dough geeks, and backyard hobbyists who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. From secret family recipes to the wild journeys of building a pizza empire, we share the authentic, messy, and delicious stories behind every perfect slice. 🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode with the world's most passionate pizza makers ♥️! Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993]  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/]  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #pizzainferno #ukpizza