Building a Pizza Empire with Joey Karvelas

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with the energetic and inspiring Joey Karvelas, co-founder of Karvelas Pizza Company. Joey shares the story of how he turned a $19,000 investment into a growing pizza empire across Georgia.

From humble beginnings in a run-down pizza shop to running six locations and planning more, Joey’s story is packed with hard-earned wisdom, personal growth, and real-life lessons for any aspiring pizzeria owner. They talk team building, menu development, delivery strategy, the power of community involvement, and even the role of faith and sobriety in Joey’s success.

This episode is a masterclass in what it really takes to build something from the ground up in the restaurant world.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• How Joey turned his dad’s old pizza shop into a multi-store brand

• Why working hard is your resume (even before you have one)

• How quitting alcohol and trusting God became his secret weapon

• What happens when you open 7 days a week in a better location (hint: triple the sales!)

• How they expanded down the I-85 corridor—on purpose or by accident?

• Joey’s formula for high lunch sales and his 11,000 orders/month chicken bites

• Why second-gen spaces aren’t always the “deal” they seem to be

• Delivery, catering, AI tools, and other smart pivots in the business

• Why “Go Do” is his best advice for new operators

🎵 The Karvelas Pizza Co. Theme Song?

"Turn Down for What" – Lil Jon
Because Joey and the team go hard, every day. No chill. No excuses.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• 🍕 Karvelas Pizza Co. Website

• 📷 Follow Karvelas Pizza on Instagram