Extensive pizza restaurant workshops offered at premier Midwest pizza show

Pizza Expo Columbus is a tax-deductible working vacation, and it will make its debut Oct. 26, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Developed specifically for owners and operators of pizzerias and Italian restaurants, there’s something for everyone at Pizza Expo Columbus. For two jam-packed days, you’ll have access to more than 250 booths of product and service providers as well as a free, top-shelf conference program that includes food demonstrations, seminars and special events.

Whether you’re an industry veteran or just thinking about opening your first unit, Pizza Expo Columbus is a must-attend event! It’s your one-stop shop for everything you need to run a successful and profitable restaurant.

You’ll be able to see, touch, taste and explore thousands of products, as well as negotiate great deals right on the show floor. Better yet, get the most out of your show experience by signing up for one of our fee-based workshops specifically designed for operators who are looking to take their operation to the next level.

What You Need to Know BEFORE Opening Your First Pizzeria WITH Nick Bogacz

Nick Bogacz once opened two new locations in four months. But the time spent between getting the keys and opening the doors was far shorter – 15 days for the first and 30 days for the second. Thirty days, in fact, is the longest it’s ever taken him to open a store – and that was only because the building itself had been unoccupied for three years and needed several repairs.

Someone asked him why he decided to open his new stores so quickly, and he said he really didn’t know there was another option. He always thought it was normal to open a store in a week or two, so he has a proven process and a system to successfully do just that – and you can too!

Sourdough Pizza Dough WITH Will Grant

Will Grant burst on the culinary scene about a decade ago, when he won several international competitions using his family’s 129-year-old sourdough starter. He began his career at the ripe age of eight, working in the kitchen of his family’s restaurant, That’s A Some Pizza, on Bainbridge Island, Washington. By age 10, he was apprenticing under several different chefs and, into his late teens, he had helped to open five restaurants.

As a young man, he decided to strike out on his own, leaving the family business for the East Coast to gain experience running kitchens at major chains such as Red Robin and Bertucci’s while learning alongside some of the world’s best chefs, including Wolfgang Puck.

Eventually, he returned to the Pacific Northwest and That’s A Some Pizza – but this time as owner and head chef. In 2020, Grant opened Sourdough Willy’s Slice House in Kingston, Washington, which offers six styles of sourdough pizza; in 2021, he opened Sourdough Willy’s Dining Room.

Carryout & Delivery Done Right WITH Michael Androw

Michael Androw is an award winning pizzaiolo and member of the World Pizza Champions. The grandson of Italian bakery owners, Androw began his pizza-making career in 1986. Currently, his E&D Pizza Co. concept is one of Connecticut’s most decorated and popular destinations for thin-crust, Italian style pizza.

Whether you operate a unit that is strictly DELCO or have a full-service dining component, focusing on maximizing carryout and delivery capabilities can yield huge results. With the right systems, packaging, marketing and operational savvy in place, your business can soar to new heights.

Remember, when deciding which tradeshow to attend, general food-service shows are precisely that – even if they claim to have an Italian pavilion and a few pizza and pasta exhibitors. To succeed in today’s fiercely competitive restaurant marketplace, you need access to all the latest strategies and product innovations. Pizza Expo Columbus is your one-stop solution.

For more details or to register, visit PizzaExpoColumbus.PizzaToday.com or call me at (502) 599-4650.

Bill Oakley,
Show Director

Go to the Pizza Expo Columbus 2025 NEWS CENTER: Latest News from the Midwest’s Premier Pizza Show