Fun Facts about Don Brand's Pizza
- Don Brand's Pizza was the second pizza shop in Canal Fulton, shortly behind the Your Pizza Shop
- Don Brand's Pizza was almost called Brandono's
- We opened with 1 refrigerator, 3 tables and 1 two-deck oven!
- Our first Saturday in operation we sold 88 pizzas with only 25 pizza pans! There were some fast dish washers on staff!
- It's a requirement that you at least try to learn to water-ski if you are hired at Don Brand's Pizza!
Interview with owner and operator, Don Brand
Favorite Pizza Topping(s): Spicy Pepperoni
Favorite Movie: Ben Hur
Favorite Music: Gospel, Andre Crouch and the Desciples. Secular, Bee Gees, Beach Boys and Neil Diamond are some
Next Best Thing to a Great Pizza: a great char-grilled hamburger!
What do you like to do when you're not working?
I don't know. I've never been not working. (Laughs) I like to water-ski, I like to workout, I like to bike, I like to wash my car. I like visiting friends and to be free during the day and not sitting behind a desk. I like the freedom of my job.
What is your favorite thing about owning a pizza shop?
I don't think there is one favorite thing. There is a bunch of stuff; well, okay, employees all working together and making it click and being efficient during a busy time.
What is the biggest challenge in a night's work?
Being prepared for whenever the rush comes because sometimes it comes unexpectedly. I want to be able to serve the customers as best as possible.
Question from our facebook fan, Robin Lauer: How did you get interested in making pizzas and wanting your own pizza shop?
I made a lot of pizza as a young boy at home. Chef boyardee (he jokes). I also liked to try different pizzas in restaurants. The original Angie's in Barberton was my favorite. There were a whole bunch of reasons I got interested in owning a pizza shop. I liked the thought of being in business for myself and the restaurant business intrigued me. Original Angie's pizza was a big influence. It was a pizza that was easy to enjoy on a frequent basis and I wanted to be able to create a pizza like that.
Question from our facebook fan, Larry Koons: What is the driving force behind that zeal for cleanliness that is so obvious and appreciated?
Dear, Larry. You answered your own question. It's in the appreciation a customer has in seeing where there pizza is made.
If you could pass along a slice of wisdom to your customers, in any area of life, what would you give them?
My answer is to myself as well as to anyone else. It's let go and let God. I know it's not always easy.
Anything else you want to say?
I think I have the best customers in the world and there are many more potential customers out there that I would like to serve and influence their taste in pizza. Oh, one more addition to that thought. In good times and bad times, good pizza can be a highlight of an evening.
Interviewed by fellow business operator, AnnaLeigh
Favorite Movie: Ben Hur
Favorite Music: Gospel, Andre Crouch and the Desciples. Secular, Bee Gees, Beach Boys and Neil Diamond are some
Next Best Thing to a Great Pizza: a great char-grilled hamburger!
What do you like to do when you're not working?
I don't know. I've never been not working. (Laughs) I like to water-ski, I like to workout, I like to bike, I like to wash my car. I like visiting friends and to be free during the day and not sitting behind a desk. I like the freedom of my job.
What is your favorite thing about owning a pizza shop?
I don't think there is one favorite thing. There is a bunch of stuff; well, okay, employees all working together and making it click and being efficient during a busy time.
What is the biggest challenge in a night's work?
Being prepared for whenever the rush comes because sometimes it comes unexpectedly. I want to be able to serve the customers as best as possible.
Question from our facebook fan, Robin Lauer: How did you get interested in making pizzas and wanting your own pizza shop?
I made a lot of pizza as a young boy at home. Chef boyardee (he jokes). I also liked to try different pizzas in restaurants. The original Angie's in Barberton was my favorite. There were a whole bunch of reasons I got interested in owning a pizza shop. I liked the thought of being in business for myself and the restaurant business intrigued me. Original Angie's pizza was a big influence. It was a pizza that was easy to enjoy on a frequent basis and I wanted to be able to create a pizza like that.
Question from our facebook fan, Larry Koons: What is the driving force behind that zeal for cleanliness that is so obvious and appreciated?
Dear, Larry. You answered your own question. It's in the appreciation a customer has in seeing where there pizza is made.
If you could pass along a slice of wisdom to your customers, in any area of life, what would you give them?
My answer is to myself as well as to anyone else. It's let go and let God. I know it's not always easy.
Anything else you want to say?
I think I have the best customers in the world and there are many more potential customers out there that I would like to serve and influence their taste in pizza. Oh, one more addition to that thought. In good times and bad times, good pizza can be a highlight of an evening.
Interviewed by fellow business operator, AnnaLeigh
Interview with co-owner, Joanne Brand
Best Known for: her love of reading and her amazing memory.
Favorite Car Ever Owned: Red Plymouth Volare
Favorite Snack: Fritos!
Favorite Book of the Bible: Romans
Favorite TV Show: NCIS
Favorite Author: Karen White
Favorite Pizza Toppings: Pepperoni and Mushroom
What's the best part about owning and operating a pizza shop?
I like having the daytime free. I don't like the crowds or having to fight them when out in about in a short evening. I've also liked having the opportunity to have met a lot of people and get to know a lot of people. I wouldn't have had that ability in a 9-5 job.
Besides pizza is there anything you like to cook or bake?
Haha! No! I may like to cut out recipes that sound good, but I don't really like to cook or bake. Don does most of that!
When you can get away from the pizza shop, you like to travel, both near and far. Has there been a favorite place or sight?
Well, most of my trips have incorporated helping family and seeing the sights or visiting a historical place happens along the route. Going to the beach is always fun. One place I wouldn't hesitate to go back to is the Outer Banks--Kill Devil Hills. It's where the Wright Brothers first flew. There's some history and fun there. I like that. Savannah is beautiful, too. Atlantic Beach. The Outer Banks, however, I would like to go back to with time and the ability to explore more.
What other hobbies do you like to entertain outside of making pizza?
Water-skiing of course! I like to research family history. I like to garden flowers. I really enjoy bicycling.
Is there anything in the history of Don Brand's Pizza that we don't already know?
Well, some people may not know that the pizza shop came before I did. Don opened the shop, I came to work here a year later and he married me down the road. What was he used to say? (she laughs). He needed a boat driver!
In 40 years of business, are the any big memories that stand out?
There are lots and lots of memories in 40 years. There aren't any bigger than others. Most of my memories are of watching our employees grow up here, work their way through school and move on to get married, have kids, sustain great jobs. We have always had great people work for us and there were lots of different personalities. I remember one girl was a math wiz and one Super Bowl Sunday she calculated how many pizzas we were making for every minute. It was fun seeing our employees be into this job. There was the time AnnaLeigh told her friends "I get to work Saturday," not "I have to work." That's pretty good. There were times throughout the years we had high school employees, one year 3 Seniors, and they all wanted to leave for Friday night football as soon as possible. They'd work hard to get us through Friday night supper, head into the bathroom to change clothes and run out the door. It's always been great to watch our employees work and still have fun.
Interviewed by AnnaLeigh Oakes
Favorite Car Ever Owned: Red Plymouth Volare
Favorite Snack: Fritos!
Favorite Book of the Bible: Romans
Favorite TV Show: NCIS
Favorite Author: Karen White
Favorite Pizza Toppings: Pepperoni and Mushroom
What's the best part about owning and operating a pizza shop?
I like having the daytime free. I don't like the crowds or having to fight them when out in about in a short evening. I've also liked having the opportunity to have met a lot of people and get to know a lot of people. I wouldn't have had that ability in a 9-5 job.
Besides pizza is there anything you like to cook or bake?
Haha! No! I may like to cut out recipes that sound good, but I don't really like to cook or bake. Don does most of that!
When you can get away from the pizza shop, you like to travel, both near and far. Has there been a favorite place or sight?
Well, most of my trips have incorporated helping family and seeing the sights or visiting a historical place happens along the route. Going to the beach is always fun. One place I wouldn't hesitate to go back to is the Outer Banks--Kill Devil Hills. It's where the Wright Brothers first flew. There's some history and fun there. I like that. Savannah is beautiful, too. Atlantic Beach. The Outer Banks, however, I would like to go back to with time and the ability to explore more.
What other hobbies do you like to entertain outside of making pizza?
Water-skiing of course! I like to research family history. I like to garden flowers. I really enjoy bicycling.
Is there anything in the history of Don Brand's Pizza that we don't already know?
Well, some people may not know that the pizza shop came before I did. Don opened the shop, I came to work here a year later and he married me down the road. What was he used to say? (she laughs). He needed a boat driver!
In 40 years of business, are the any big memories that stand out?
There are lots and lots of memories in 40 years. There aren't any bigger than others. Most of my memories are of watching our employees grow up here, work their way through school and move on to get married, have kids, sustain great jobs. We have always had great people work for us and there were lots of different personalities. I remember one girl was a math wiz and one Super Bowl Sunday she calculated how many pizzas we were making for every minute. It was fun seeing our employees be into this job. There was the time AnnaLeigh told her friends "I get to work Saturday," not "I have to work." That's pretty good. There were times throughout the years we had high school employees, one year 3 Seniors, and they all wanted to leave for Friday night football as soon as possible. They'd work hard to get us through Friday night supper, head into the bathroom to change clothes and run out the door. It's always been great to watch our employees work and still have fun.
Interviewed by AnnaLeigh Oakes
Interview with Part-Owner, AnnaLeigh Oakes
Best Known for: being the motivator, her aspirations to be an author, quoting movies.
Favorite Day of the Week: You might think Monday since it's our day off, but it's Friday--most people's favorite day to get pizza! Favorite Pizza Topping: I like to do something different every time, but always, always, always lots of extra sauce! Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird. I also like Cold Sassy Tree and The Thorn Birds. Favorite Movie: It depends on my mood. The silly side of me says you can't go wrong with a good laugh over Dumb and Dumber, but the mature side of me loves My Fair Lady, a true classic. I also still love Disney Movies; Toy Story is my fave! Dream Car: A Jeep Wrangler Rubicon What is your best pizza shop memory? The time we closed to go to the Beach Boys concert at blossom was pretty awesome! We have a great time together in and out of the pizza shop. What inspires you the most? I think it depends on what I am being inspired to do. In general, my faith is a big motivator in my life, so I can say my trust in God often inspires me day to day. I know that my future is a part of His plan. When you are a BIG dreamer, planner and organizer like I am, it's hard to sit back and let someone else have the control, but I have learned to trust the favor God has over my life and that inspires me to live with less fear of what lies ahead. Beyond that, I love to overcome challenges, big and small, and when I do I feel successful and ready for the next task at hand. Success, as for most people, I would assume, inspires me to want to go further! How long have you been working at Don Brand's Pizza? Since September of 2002! When you first started working here did you imagine this would become your career? No. When I was little, I wanted to work my first job in a pizza shop. When I was of working age, it wasn't just any pizza shop I wanted to work at, it was Don Brand's. My goal here was to work myself through college and become a special education teacher. While I still have a passion for working with people with disabilities, about two years into college my heart for a career in education started changing. The field was evolving rapidly and for many reasons I started questioning my future in it. One thing I always loved however, was coming to work at Don Brand's Pizza. I realized how much I loved what I was already doing. As the wheels were turning in my mind, so they were turning in Don and Joan's minds and one day Don said to me, "You know we don't have any biological children; there's no one to take this place over someday." I finished college with a major in English and a minor in writing, and with a lot of research and time and discussion on how to best make me an owner of the business, we formed an LLC in 2012. Other than your amazing co-workers, what is your favorite part about working here? Wow! So much. The first thing that comes to mind, however, is how much I love working with all of our customers. Whether it's welcoming a new customer or forming a relationship with the customers we have coming in our door at least once a week, I enjoy the ability to build a professional relationship between business and customer. On a scale of 1-10, how blessed do you feel to be able to work with your sister? The scale fluctuates. Is she in her princess mode? Is she working hard? And actually, it's more like she is blessed to be able to work with me! What are you most looking forward to in the future of Don Brand's Pizza? It's bittersweet. I absolutely love working beside Don and Joan, and as the core operators, we make a great team. We work so well together that I sometimes fear being able to create a team that runs as well as we do. I look forward to someday taking the leadership role, however, and continuing on the name and product of Don Brand's Pizza as it is already known. I trust God will handle everything and bring the right people when they are needed, but that road is far ahead. Don loves working and he is irreplaceable in my book. I honor what he and Joan have built in this business. I will stand by all that Don has taught me, not because it's his way, but because his success has proved his business beliefs work. What does being part owner mean to you? It's great to be a part of moving towards what has always been known as "living the American dream"--business ownership. It's definitely harder now than it was 40 years ago, when Don got started, but the opportunity is still there and I am on my way to obtaining it. It feels good to be able to organize and lead a group of people to work a small business, what I truly feel is a great place to work. From facebook fan and AnnaLeigh's Uncle, David Oakes: On down the line do you expect to make minor or major changes as a part owner of Don Brand's Pizza such as food services, ect? No. Sometimes within the food industry changes are forced due to product overhaul, so if there was a hand forcing a change I would have to comply, but as for making changes myself, I don't see where that would be necessary. We specialize in pizza; always have, always will. Serving only pizza has allowed us to put all the focus on the creation of the pizza product, making sure it is at its best. Our business is putting out a great pizza to be served hot. Not delivery. Not chicken. Not subs. Pizza! From facebook fan Robyn Richmond Shondel: What do you think about adding tomatoes to the list of toppings? Yummy! There are lots of great pizza toppings out there! I personally feel that our sauce is so amazing that another tomato product wouldn't be ordered often enough for us to be able to keep the product fresh between requests. In fact, we have tried other items before--ham, bacon, etc.--but they just aren't "hot ticket" items that are ordered enough for us to efficiently and effectively carry them. That's the biggest challenge in food service and our hope is to always have the freshest, best tasting pizza possible! Interviewed by Maddi Oakes |
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