Square Pies & Mai Tai’s w/ Salar of MaiPai

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On this episode, meet Salar, the visionary owner-operator behind MaiPai, Hamilton Ontario's most unique dining destination where authentic Detroit-style pizza meets immersive tiki bar culture. What started as a dream to combine two passions has become a fully-booked phenomenon that guests reserve weeks in advance, proving that when you build something people can't find anywhere else, they'll seek you out.

 

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction: MaiPai's Tiki Pizza Paradise

2:05 - The Origin Story: How Tiki Bars & Detroit Pizza Merged

3:07 - Location Strategy: Opening in Hamilton's "Bad" Neighborhood

5:02 - Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Building Buzz Without Social Media

6:14 - Pizza vs Alcohol Sales: What Really Drives Revenue

7:11 - Tiki Bar Culture: Adult Disneyland for Rum Lovers

10:26 - Tiki Bar Design: Creating an Overwhelming Sensory Experience

13:06 - Red Dwarf Comparison: Detroit Pizza & Tiki Bar Concepts

15:00 - Space Buildout: Finding the Right Location & Layout

16:23 - Pandemic Pivot: How Pizza Saved the Day During Lockdown

24:16 - Tiki Cocktail Program: Hiring Expert Bartenders

26:12 - Detroit Style Pizza in Canada: Missing Market Opportunity

28:20 - Detroit Pizza Pilgrimage: Louis vs Spicy Pie

29:16 - Pan Size Debate: 8x10 vs 10x14 Detroit Style

31:24 - Detroit Style Pizza Company: Taking Shawn Randazzo's Class

34:18 - Pan Seasoning: Detroit Style Pizza Co vs Lloyd Pans

35:01 - Detroit Pizza Dough: 70% Hydration & Simplified Process

37:27 - Skipping Steps: Why Perfect Isn't Always Better

41:32 - Equipment Upgrade: From Bakers Pride to Pizza Master Ovens

48:23 - Round Pizza Experiments: Using New Oven Flexibility

50:18 - Training Staff: Is Detroit Style Easier Than Round Pizza?

53:47 - Restaurant Operations: Daily Routine & Responsibilities

54:59 - Building Infrastructure: Power, AC & Apartment Issues

56:22 - Future Plans: Hawaiian Restaurant Dreams

59:44 - Work-Life Balance: Managing a 7-Day Operation

1:05:18 - Rapid Fire: Hot Honey, Long Fermentation & High Hydration

1:07:31 - Social Media Impact: TikTok Success Without Trying

1:10:06 - AI Phone Systems: The Future of Restaurant Technology

1:13:59 - Pizza Competitions: Why Competing is Underrated