Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Rosales Founder Of Pastel Pizza Rosa Revilla Co- Founder Of Pastel Pizza.
Juan Rosales Founder Of Pastel Pizza, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The Story of PastelPizza: A Journey of Hard Work, Commitment, and Resilience
Pastel Pizza was born from a dream, perseverance, and the desire for a better future. In 2016, Juan Rosales and Rosa Revilla arrived in Katy, Texas, with big hopes and few belongings. Juan carried only a suitcase and $800 but was filled with determination and the will to succeed.
From their first days in the United States, Juan worked in restaurants and construction, while Rosa worked as a nanny and in restaurants. However, in their free time, they dedicated hours to making tequeños in their small apartment and selling them to friends and acquaintances. The response was immediate, and little by little, the flavor and quality of their products won over more people. It was then that Juan made a crucial decision: he left his job to dedicate himself entirely to selling tequeños and pastelitos from home.
In 2018, the couple took the next big step and opened their own food truck. They continued producing from their apartment while selling their Venezuelan delicacies on the truck. This is how Pastel Pizza was born—an enterprise built on effort, commitment, and an unwavering passion for sharing the flavors of their homeland.
As demand grew, in 2020, they moved into their first production facility, allowing them to expand their capacity and take an important leap forward in their business. Two years later, in 2022, they achieved another major milestone: opening the first Pastel Pizza restaurant, bringing their culinary concept to a space where more people could enjoy their products.
Today, Pastel Pizza has four restaurants and two food trucks in the Katy, Houston, and Spring areas, as well as a factory where they produce and distribute tequeños wholesale to other restaurants. With a team of 50 employees, the company continues to grow and evolve.
The beginnings were challenging, as they had no machinery for production and did everything by hand. Every advancement in the business was reinvested into purchasing new equipment to facilitate the work and allow for continuous growth. It has been a journey full of challenges but also great learning experiences and rewards.
Today, Pastel Pizza is not just a business but a thriving project. We are about to begin construction on a production center three times larger than our current facility, working on opening new locations, and formalizing our franchise model.
The story of Pastel Pizza is proof that with hard work, patience, and resilience, dreams can come true. We remain committed to our passion, bringing the flavors of Venezuela to more homes and proving that dedication and effort always pay off.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, the journey with Pastel Pizza has not been easy. We had to save a lot to gradually purchase the equipment we needed. We worked 12 to 16 hours a day to keep up with customer demand and food truck production. In the beginning, we had to do everything ourselves: administration, marketing, purchasing—everything the business needed, we handled between the two of us. There were days when Juan was exhausted, and I had to lift his spirits, and when I was the one who couldn’t keep going, it was his turn to motivate me. That’s how we built our business—with perseverance, teamwork, and never giving up.
The beginnings were challenging, as we had no machinery for production and did everything by hand. Every advancement in the business was reinvested into purchasing new equipment to facilitate the work and allow for continuous growth. It has been a journey full of challenges but also great learning experiences and rewards.
Today, Pastel Pizza is not just a business but a thriving project. We are about to begin construction on a production center three times larger than our current facility, working on opening new locations, and formalizing our franchise model.
The story of Pastel Pizza is proof that with hard work, patience, and resilience, dreams can come true. We remain committed to our passion, bringing the flavors of Venezuela to more homes and proving that dedication and effort always pay off.
We’ve been impressed with Pastel Pizza , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Who We Are
We’re Juan and Rosa, a Venezuelan couple with a story of hard work and passion for gastronomy. Juan, with over 20 years of experience in the food business, started in a family-run venture in Venezuela before emigrating. Rosa, an industrial engineer with nine years of experience in strategic planning and management, complements the operational vision of the business.
Our Experience
Our journey combines tradition and strategy. Juan brings his expertise in food preparation and sales, while Rosa optimizes business planning and management. This combination allows us to provide high-quality service with a solid business approach.
What Makes Us Stand Out
We specialize in iconic Venezuelan products such as tequeños, pastelitos, empanadas, and mandocas. We stand out for the authenticity of our recipes, the quality of our ingredients, and the passion we put into every product. Additionally, we aim to expand our reach to a broader Latin audience, adapting our offerings to different tastes while staying true to our essence.
What We Are Proud Of
We built Pastel Pizza from scratch in a new country, turning our passion into a business with multiple locations. We take pride in keeping Venezuelan culinary traditions alive and being a gathering place for the community. Moreover, our story reflects the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of migrants pursuing their dreams.
What We Offer
At Pastel Pizza, we provide fresh and authentic products that connect with nostalgia and the taste of home. We offer service in our physical locations, catering for events, and pre-cooked frozen products so you can enjoy them at home whenever you like.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
During the pandemic, we faced uncertainty while expecting our second baby. We decided to close for a month to better understand the situation, and during that time, we analyzed our weaknesses, conducted workshops to evaluate options, and designed a plan to adapt. We implemented a customer database, updated our website to receive online orders, and maintained a strong message of safety and hygiene in all our processes. That period of adaptation turned into a growth opportunity for our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pastelpizza.com
