Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Rommel
Hi Erika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
– Grand Central Pizza Station
We’re a veteran-owned, community-focused pizzeria, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the community at 352 Moore Rd., Ocoee, FL 34761. With deep roots in New York, Grand Central Pizza Station brings a one-of-a-kind pizza experience to Central Florida, specializing in NY, Detroit, and Sicilian pies, using only the finest ingredients, including Grande Cheese and Boar’s Head meats.
We decided to open a pizza business because, as New Yorkers, we understand the importance of finding truly great NY pizza. After months of research, we found a gap in the “Pizza Market” here in Florida, which has a growing demand for high-quality, authentic pizza, and we believe we can bring the classic taste and experience of New York’s best pizzerias to this area. Our passion for pizza, combined with our dedication to quality and authenticity, drives us to fill this need and provide our customers with an exceptional dining experience.
We are husband and wife (Dan& Erika Rommel) owned with Gary Foster (Erika’s Dad) who manages the FOH and Tommy Pape who is our Executive Pizza Chef who crafts our pizzas & recipes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m sure we encountered similar struggles as most new business owners do…understanding the process, ensuring that we’ve met both City & State requirements, as well as managing against construction issues and delays. All the fun stuff. Haha!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What we do: We blend the flavors of New York and Detroit pizzas. From handcrafted dough using the New York Watermaker to using only the finest ingredients like Grande Cheese and Boar’s Head Meats, each bite reflects our commitment to quality. We let our passion for crafting the perfect pie and dedication to the community, come to life one delicious slice at a time.
What we specialize in: We specialize in offering a premium product and delivering on that authentic NY pizza, that everyone craves. We also specialize in Detroit and Sicilian pies and Our Key Lime pie is a game changer!
What we’re known for: Our house made dough is something that most customers comment on. Our Bronx Bomber pie features 1/2 lb. of cup and char pepperoni and its ridiculously good! We also feature an LTO Pizza of the Day which is called “Our Daily Dough” along with Lunch specials which offer 2 slices and a fountain beverage for a discount.
Most proud of: We are Pizzaiolo Certified. Our Pizzaiolos are certified professionals trained at the Pacific Northwest School of Pizza in Kingston, Washington. This school is one of just two in the U.S. accredited by the renowned Scuola Pizzaiolo Italiana in Parma, Italy, ensuring an authentic taste of Italy in every slice.
Also, our In-store Decor and family friendly environment is something we take great pride in. We also commissioned 2 high school students (Amira Martin and Charlotte Jaehnel) from Olympia High School to create a mural on a 40ft x 12ft wall. They brought our Brand and our pizza to life. They also created some Pizza Angel Wings that are Insta-Worthy.
What Sets us apart:
• Made-to-order freshness: Every pizza, calzone, and salad are made fresh to ensure the highest quality.
• Old-school cooking methods: We use traditional pizza ovens, where each pizza is hand-monitored and rotated for the perfect cook and char.
• New York-style dough: Our dough is made fresh daily using water from the New York Watermaker, replicating NYC’s signature pizza-making water.
• Cold-proofed dough: Dough is cold-proofed for 24-72 hours to develop its flavor and texture.
• Freshly made sauce: Our pizza sauce is prepared fresh daily to ensure the best taste for every pizza and calzone.
• Premium cheese: We use only Grande Cheese, shredded and blended in-house for the freshest, highest quality toppings.
• Fresh ingredients: Vegetables are delivered and prepared daily for all pizzas, calzones, and salads. Even our Pineapple is cut fresh daily.
• Top-quality meats: We use only Boar’s Head Meats to top our salads, ensuring premium quality.
• House-made salad dressings: All salad dressings (except Balsamic) are made from scratch daily for freshness.
• Game Changing dessert: Our Key Lime Pies and whipped cream are made in-house daily, offering a refreshing dessert for our customers.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Most Important Lesson:
We’ve learned that patience truly is a virtue. That everything takes much longer than you think to get completed and cost more than you’d expect. We anticipated being open no later than early June but found ourselves finally opening on Sept. 30th. So, managing expectations on timing & cost is critical.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grandcentralpizzastation.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandcentralpizzastation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560238155924
- Twitter: www.tiktok.com/@grandcentralpizzastation
- Other: https://linktr.ee/grandcentralpizzastation
