Welcome to a masterclass in culinary craftsmanship and entrepreneurial evolution. In this episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Alan Maniscalco, the seasoned chef and visionary behind two of the Portland area's most beloved spots: the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge and Rally Pizza. This is the captivating story of a journey forged in flour and fire, from Sicilian roots to the pinnacle of the artisan food scene.
Alan's story is the winding path of a true craftsman. He recounts how a passion for food, first sparked at college dinner parties, led him away from a conventional path and into the demanding world of artisan bakeries. From the gritty, creative scene of early 90s Portland to mentored apprenticeships in Arizona and Michigan, he learned a foundational lesson that would define his career: there is a profound difference between doing things the easy way and doing them the right way.
This episode charts Alan's remarkable ascent from baker to partner to renowned proprietor. After helping build the iconic Ken's Artisan Pizza into a Portland institution, he and his wife and business partner, Shan, took the leap to create their own legacy with Rally Pizza. But it's their journey through the pandemic and beyond that offers the most powerful lessons in resilience. Alan details the brilliant and strategic pivot of keeping the Rally Pizza brand alive as a permanent pop-up inside a local brewery after closing their original location.
Simultaneously, he shares the story of realizing a long-held dream: transforming the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, a quirky Portland dive bar, into a vibrant, nostalgic Italian-American hub. Discover the artful balance of preserving the soul of a beloved local haunt while infusing it with an elevated menu of red-sauce classics, inventive cocktails, and the warm spirit of his San Francisco upbringing.
This is a story about building a business—and a life—with intention, integrity, and the people you love. Alan speaks candidly about the power of family, with both his wife and daughter playing integral roles in their operations, and the importance of empowering his team through partnership. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the patience of craft, the wisdom of strategic pivots, and the enduring joy of sharing great food with a cherished community.
IG: @luckyhorseshouloungeportland
Address: https://www.luckyhorseshoeportland.com/
Location: 2524 SE Clinton St., Portland, OR 97202
IG: @rallypizza
Address: www.rallypizza.com
Location: 2905 St Johns Blvd, Vancouver, WA
Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast
Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )
Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.
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