Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Rommel.
Hi Erika, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our story is rooted in perseverance, purpose, and a shared dream to bring a taste of New York to Central Florida.
We’re Dan and Erika Rommel—New Yorkers at heart, shaped by the city’s culture, energy, and iconic food. After decades building careers in the corporate world—Dan through Navy service and a successful run in Biotech, and Erika in national sales and marketing roles at Philip Morris USA and Dr Pepper—we found ourselves longing for something deeper. Something we could build together.
The idea was simple: create a place where authentic New York pizza meets heartfelt hospitality. Florida’s growing demand for quality pizza made the mission clear, and Grand Central Pizza Station was born.
But our purpose goes beyond the pizza. As a veteran-owned business, we’re committed to honoring Veterans and First Responders, and to creating a welcoming space where the community feels like family. Every slice we serve reflects our roots, our gratitude, and our passion for doing things the right way.
At Grand Central, we’re not just serving pizza—we’re serving connection, tradition, and a little piece of home.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Opening a new business is never as simple as it looks from the outside. If it were, we’d be writing this from a hammock somewhere, not still fine-tuning sauce ratios and training our team on dough stretching techniques!
One of the biggest challenges has been building local awareness. We know we have an incredible product, but introducing a new brand to a community takes time, trust, and a lot of hustle. We’re grateful for every customer who’s taken a chance on us and shared their experience—it’s helped more than any billboard ever could.
Then there’s the reality that nothing—absolutely nothing—happens overnight. From construction delays to inspections, to even finding the right crew, it’s a process that tested our patience more than once. Even crafting the right guest experience took trial, error, and a willingness to evolve.
And we’re still evolving. Every day brings new lessons. We listen closely to feedback, make adjustments, and constantly look for ways to improve. We want every visit to feel better than the last—more personal, more dialed-in, more us.
Has the road been smooth? Not even close. But every speed bump has made us stronger, more resilient, and more passionate about the brand we’re building. We believe in what we’re doing, and we’re just getting started.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Grand Central Pizza Station?
At Grand Central Pizza Station, being Veteran Owned and Operated isn’t just a title—it’s a mindset built on service, discipline, and commitment. We proudly offer a year-round discount to Veterans and First Responders as a small way to say thank you.
What sets us apart is our dedication to quality. We make our dough and sauce from scratch daily, with dough that ferments for 24–72 hours. We’re one of the few shops with three Pizzaiolo Certified team members, trained at a school accredited by Italy. They study everything from fermentation to hand temperature—because great pizza is both science and art.
We only use Grande Cheese (hand-shredded in-house), Boar’s Head meats, and veggies cut fresh daily—even the pineapple. We use a NY WaterMaker to replicate authentic NYC water, and we house-make nearly all our dressings. Oh—and don’t skip our Key Lime Pie. It’s made in-house (including the whipped cream) and it’s life-changing.
Community is at the core of what we do. From sponsorships of local sports teams & schools to student-designed murals including our Instagram-worthy Pizza Angel Wings, we’re proud to be part of something bigger. Our menu is a fun tribute to NYC and mob legends, and we’ve got Crooked Can beer, wine, and sangria to round out the experience…just in case your pizza needs a wingman!
At the heart of it all, we’ve created a space for families to slow down and connect—no phones, just great food and good company. Between the the decor, mural, kids’ activity sheets, and pizza tattoos—it’s a vibe. As we like to say, Come as a Guest…Leave as a Friend.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Dan grew up on Long Island, spending his days riding bikes, playing sports, and grabbing slices from his neighborhood spot, Central Pizza. Summers were all about Yankees games—a tradition he still loves today.
I grew up in the Hudson Valley, just north of the city. Friday night pizza with my family was a staple, and I stayed active with softball, cheerleading, and swim team. My dad (Gary Foster) and I always dreamed of opening a small business together—and 35 years later, we finally made it happen, side by side. I’m truly blessed to be able to have this experience with my Dad.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grandcentralpizzastation.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandcentralpizzastation/profilecard
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EdHkDWtAn/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/RicuLbjasK
- Other: https://linktr.ee/grandcentralpizzastation
