SAN ANGELO, Texas — According to the National Restaurant Association, one in every three restaurants does not survive year one in business. Yet, this is not the case for Angelo Ale House and Pizzeria, which just celebrated its first year serving the Concho Valley.
Owner Rusty Bartholomeo credits the success of his pizza joint not just to the fresh ingredients he uses every day, but the San Angelo community for sticking to his side throughout the ups and downs of a new restaurant.
"We have gone through a lot of new menu items, keeping things fresh for the customer, taking some things off. It has been a process. We had our little fall off, like everybody does, but then it is really, we have continued to get love from the community, and I just cannot be thankful enough for it," Bartholomeo said.
Bartholomeo restaurant has established itself within the community with an average 4.6 stars out of five rating on Google reviews. Despite the success, he believes the next step towards success is to stay consistent on good days and bad days.
"We all have our days, it can go right or wrong, but being consistent will put us on top." He later added, "The goal is more consistent this year, and with the staff that we have hired and the training that we have gone through, we are really getting a consistent product now, better than we have ever done."
Bartholomeo and his father used to make pizzas in his backyard. His great-grandfather came to America from Italy in the previous century. Rusty says this entire experience has been a full-circle moment.