Buddy LaRosa
Owner
LaRosa's Inc.
Cincinnati, OH USA
“You can't get wet unless you jump into the water. You have to go ahead and commit to something and try it.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationBuddy LaRosa
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
Grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, was used as their "cheap labor" as a kid.
"You name it, I did it": drove a cement truck, sold shoes, dug ditches for Cincinnati Gas & Electric, "must've had 50 jobs like that."
Joined the Navy at 21 when the Korean War started up; stationed in Philadelphia, liked to hang out in South Philly, the Italian section.
Saw the pizzerias and Italian bakeries, decided he wanted to open up an Italian restaurant.
Set up a pizza booth at a church function; ended up selling out, being the most successful booth at the festival.
Started a store with only $400; had no idea how to run a business-took on an accountant, some partners to gain more capital.
His partners eventually sold their shares, Buddy grew his one restaurant into a tri-state, 60-restaurant operation.
Encourages young people to take minimum-wage jobs in fields they like, observe the higher-ups and see if they're happy.
Keep following my journey
Career
Owner
I share my love of Italian food with people through my franchise of family pizzerias.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Entrepreneurship
Food
Accomplishing Goals
Interviewed By
Cincinnati - Seattle
In Cincinnati, the Roadtrip Nation team meets with La Rosa's Pizzeria founder Buddy LaRosa, who tells them you can't get your feet wet unless you jump into the water. They spend time in the Midwest at Iowa's Corn Palace and at Mount Rushmore, then it's off to the Pacific Northwest to meet with worldchanging.org's Executive Editor Alex Steffen and classical radio host Edmund Stone.
