Today we’d like to introduce you to Andres Maldonado
Hi Andres, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Well, I kicked things off cooking for friends and family after moving to Orlando from Puerto Rico. My wife kind of gave me the push I needed to really go for it and pursue this dream, so I decided to join Le Cordon Bleu to sharpen my skills. While I was in culinary school, my main goal was simple: learn from the best and make it my own. I ended up working at some of the top spots in Central Florida—everything from luxury hotels to exclusive country clubs, learning from chefs who were experts in international cuisine. Eventually, I landed a gig as Head Chef at a Private Country Club, where I focused on building my leadership and mentoring skills.
At the same time, my twin brother and I decided to jump into the food truck world as a side hustle. We wanted to bring the high-end Country Club vibes to the streets with the first fully customizable food truck in Orlando, Nona Street Bistro, and it was a huge hit! We had some amazing experiences, like catering for the Boston Red Sox during their spring training every single day.
Fast forward to now, and we’ve expanded our original brand into Nona Street Pizza, which has become super popular. We take pride in doing things from scratch, with a lot of passion and love. We don’t cut corners. Our pizzas are definitely not your typical pizzeria fare—everything is unique, and we’re all about giving our customers, or as we like to call them, Pizza Lovers, a whole new experience.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely been a pretty bumpy road—nothing smooth about it. I’ve faced a lot of struggles, whether personal, financial, emotional, or business-related. There have been plenty of missed opportunities, like missing family birthdays and holidays. I’ve worked 20-hour days, non-stop for weeks and months. I learned a lot of things the hard way—sometimes because I didn’t listen to the right people, or sometimes listened to the wrong advice. But bit by bit, I kept pushing forward, learning from my mistakes, and eventually found some great mentors in the industry who really had my back and were always looking out for me and my business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Nona Street Pizza?
At Nona Street Pizza, we’re all about crafting unique, from-scratch pizzas with fresh, high-quality ingredients. What sets us apart is our focus on customization—our customers can create their perfect pizza, and we love experimenting with new flavors and ideas to keep things fresh like fried calzones, our street sandwiches, sous vide implementations, fried pizzas, and more. We’re known for going above and beyond, with no shortcuts in our dough, sauces, or toppings.
We started as a food truck, Nona Street Bistro, and it was such a hit that we expanded into Nona Street Pizza, where we’re now one of the most talked-about pizza spots in Central Florida. What we’re most proud of is how we’ve built a brand that’s all about passion, creativity, and giving our customers an unforgettable experience. We treat everyone like family, and when you come to Nona Street, you’re not just getting pizza—you’re getting a slice of what we love to do.
What does success mean to you?
Success, for me, is all about growth—learning, improving, and making a real impact. It’s not just about the numbers but seeing my team and customers happy, and creating something special. Staying true to my vision and values, even when things get tough, is key. At the end of the day, success is about being proud of what I’ve built and knowing it’s making a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nonastreetpizza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonastreetpizza/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093525193319
Image Credits
ValtoPhotography
