The Pizza Journey: From Italy to Michigan's FAVORITE PIZZA!

The Real West Michigan

From flour bag naps to award-winning pizza, Dan Uccello's journey embodies resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. Moving to America from Italy at age 11 without speaking English, Dan watched his parents build a life from nothing, working seven days a week in a small pizzeria to support their family.
When banks laughed at his 22-year-old ambition to open his own restaurant, Dan persevered through liquor license rejections, surprise fees, and trademark lawsuits. Today, his five Flo's restaurant locations stand as testament to his unwavering determination. His proudest achievement came when he represented America in Italy's prestigious pizza competition, winning "Best Pizza in America" despite his ingredients being lost in transit.
But success hasn't come easily. Dan pulls back the curtain on restaurant economics, revealing the razor-thin 1.02% profit margins his group faced in 2024. "If you don't think a penny matters, think twice," he cautions aspiring restaurateurs, stressing that today's industry requires hands-on ownership and meticulous attention to detail. His implementation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) transformed his business, allowing him to step into the "owner's box" after years of 90-hour workweeks.
Diversification has been key to Dan's broader success. Beyond restaurants, he's built a substantial commercial real estate portfolio and hard money lending business, where his relationship-focused approach has helped new investors succeed while generating 13% returns. Throughout his ventures, Dan maintains that authentic connections matter more than transactions.
As the restaurant industry faces technological disruption with AI and robotics, Dan believes the hospitality element will always create space for human-centered businesses. His story isn't just about building restaurants but about embracing challenges, rejecting victim mentality, and creating value for others along the way. Connect with Dan on social media for business advice from someone who's lived the entrepreneurial journey from immigrant dreams to business success.

Video Podcast available here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealWestMichigan
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: THE PALMER GROUP real estate team. The Palmer Group is an energetic team within 616 REALTY led by Eldon Palmer with over 20 years of experience helping people navigate the home buying and selling process in West Michigan. To support the channel and all of our guests, contact [email protected], drop a COMMENT, SHARE, LIKE or SUBSCRIBE to this podcast.
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Chapters

1. Dan's Immigration Story from Italy (00:00:00)

2. Growing Up in the Family Pizzeria (00:05:35)

3. Starting Flo's in Belmont at Age 24 (00:09:34)

4. Building the Flo's Restaurant Group (00:18:15)

5. Competing in Pizza Competitions Worldwide (00:24:40)

6. Facing Industry Challenges Post-Pandemic (00:35:47)

7. Implementing EOS for Business Transformation (00:42:30)

8. Commercial Real Estate and Hard Money Lending (00:51:29)

9. Final Thoughts on Entrepreneurship (01:24:50)