E120 - Episode 115: Shahpour Nejad with Pizza Guys

While in college studying mechanical engineering in the ‘80s, Shahpour Nejad worked part-time making and delivering pizzas. "It stuck with me. I am still loving the pizza business."  

After moving from Cleveland to Sacramento, Nejad opened the very first Pizza Guys in 1986. "What a learning experience,” he says, adding, “We had 65 seats and offered a pretty extensive menu featuring a lunch buffet. We became much smarter opening our second location at a 1,200 square-foot counter-service, take-out and delivery-only concept.”

The concept’s second unit was a prototype for expansion. Currently, there are eight company-owned units operating in the Sacra...