The story of Bowie Pizza begins with me. My name is Eric, and I come from a close-knit Italian family where the kitchen was more than a room — it was the heart of our home. Some of my earliest memories are of watching my mother create magic with her hands, making pizzas entirely from scratch. I remember her kneading the dough with care, letting it rise as if it had a life of its own, and turning it into something that wasn’t just food, but a moment of togetherness, laughter, and love.

In 2005, shortly after getting married, I took my first steps into the fast-food world, chasing the dream of owning my own business. But it wasn’t until 2013, when we moved into a home with a wood-fired oven, that something inside me reignited. What began as curiosity became a journey — a return to those childhood memories, but now with the intention of creating something that could bring people together the way my mother’s cooking brought our family close.

Then came 2017 — the year that changed everything. A trip to Italy introduced me to pizzas unlike anything I had experienced before. Fresh ingredients, long-fermented dough, warm and welcoming spaces… each meal felt like home. I left Italy with more than memories. I left with a dream.

By 2018, that dream started taking shape. I imagined a place that brought authentic flavors and a sense of belonging to my city. A place where long-fermented dough met the highest-quality ingredients, and where every customer felt like part of the family. One morning, I woke up with the name “Bowie Pizza” stuck in my mind. Later, I discovered a small town in Arizona known for producing some of the country’s finest wheat — Bowie. It felt like a sign. Great pizza starts with great flour, and Bowie was the perfect match.

The road wasn’t easy. The pandemic slowed everything down and tested our determination. But in 2022, at a moment when the future seemed uncertain, childhood friends joined the journey. They believed in the vision that had guided me for years. Their expertise, passion, and trust transformed an idea into a real, tangible project.

Today, as Bowie Pizza opens its doors in Gainesville, I look back at every step — from my mother’s kitchen, to Italy, through obstacles and breakthroughs — and I am reminded of why this dream matters. Bowie Pizza is not just about great pizza. It is about connection, resilience, and the belief that the best things in life are worth the wait.