Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Rodriguez.
Hi Daniel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Cuba and, like many Cubans, I arrived in this country 30 years ago with dreams, culinary knowledge, memories, and the flavor of my homeland carried in my heart.
From that nostalgia, Danny’s Pizza Miami Style was born, a pizza created with soul, inspired by Cuban flavors but adapted to the rhythm of Miami, the city where so many of us have built a new home.
I wanted Cubans living far from our island to relive family moments, the neighborhood, and the taste of Cuba… with every bite. I also wanted to share this piece of culture and tasty bite with the rest of Miami. And little by little, Miami made this pizza its own.
Today, Cuban pizza is recognized as a Miami food staple, and it fills me with pride to have been the first to bring it into homes through supermarkets like Walmart, Sedano’s, Fresco y Más, Winn-Dixie, Bravo, Key Food, Farm Stores, restaurants, food trucks, and many more retailers, bringing an authentic flavor to more families.
And I’d like to share something important: The concept of “Miami Style Pizza” did not exist before.
I coined it, chose to bring it to the community .
My pizza is named Danny’s Pizza Miami Style, and in every demo we do, I see people recognizing the name as something that belongs to Miami.
Miami Style pizza is a cultural vision that comes from the heart. The Cuban community is one of the largest and most influential in this city, and I truly feel that our pizza, the Cuban pizza, reflects Miami’s essence.
That’s why I proudly chose to lead the Miami Style Pizza movement.
In every demo we do in Florida supermarkets, we are making history.
It’s no longer just Cubans who enjoy it; residents from all over Florida, Hispanics, Americans, and people across cultures come, taste, ask questions, and talk about Danny’s Pizza Miami Style. We receive beautiful comments filled with support, curiosity, and affection.
Seeing customers say, “this flavor is incredible,” and “this brings back nostalgia from old times,” is priceless and pushes me to keep growing to bring the flavor of Danny’s Pizza Miami Style to more people.
We’ve created a cultural bridge, a testament to who we Cubans are when we build with heart.
I hope that that more people discover the taste of our roots, and that Cubans, those here and abroad, come together with one mission: to make our culture known, valued, and celebrated.
I don’t have millions for big campaigns. I have something more important: history, authenticity, hard work, and a product made with love.
And I’ll keep knocking on doors until everyone knows that our flavor exists, that it has its own identity, and that it is now part of Miami’s heart: Danny’s Pizza Miami Style
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As a Cuban immigrant, I faced real barriers from the beginning: language, racism, limited opportunities, and starting from scratch in a new country.
Since we started, we’ve faced competition, conflicts of interest, power struggles, closed doors…
Even so, we continued working hard every day, without stopping, without excuses, because when you have a dream, you protect it at all costs. Life also tested us in 2022. Hurricane Ian displaced my family from our home, significantly damaged Danny’s Pizza Miami Style’s warehouse, and my wife was laid off, We were left with nothing but the strength to stand up again. But we persevered through the hardships, and we are proud to say that Danny’s Pizza Miami Style is thriving.
Howeber, I did not achieve all of this alone. My wife is behind every accomplishment; her discipline, structure, perseverance, and dedication makes everything possible.
I want to thank and acknowlege my family, who always support us and my staff, who are part of our family; and my children, who have understood our sacrifices and have given us strength during the hardest moments, thank you.
I also want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who helped us in the beginning, to those who believed in us, opened supermarket doors for us, and trusted this dream before it became a reality.
Danny’s Pizza Miami Style is the pioneer of this style and movement. We want to uplift the cuban culture and bring people from all over together. To everyone who believes in this dream, Americans, Hispanics, Cubans, investors,
if you like what we are building, support it. Together we can bring this flavor to more states, more families, and more homes where nostalgia still lives.
We deeply believe in what we do. And nothing and no one will stop us from bring people together through our love of food and culture.
We’ve been impressed with Danny’s Sub and Pizza, INC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My work goes far beyond making pizzas and pastas. My career has been dedicated to preserving, transforming, and elevating an authentic flavor that represents my roots and identity.
I’ve spent more than 30 years in the food industry, and I learned something fundamental: food has the power to unite cultures, awaken memories, and build community.
That is exactly what I aimed to do when I created Danny’s Pizza Miami Style.
My greatest professional contribution, and the one I’m most proud of, is being the first to bring the concept of Miami Style pizza into American retail. We were the pioneers who introduced this style into supermarkets like Walmart, Sedano’s, Fresco y Más, and Winn-Dixie. It meant bringing a piece of our roots into the place where millions of families shop.
Today, in every demo we do, I see people from various nationalities and cultures try Miami Style pizza for the first time and make it their own. That kind of impact cannot be bought with money; it comes from love, dedication, and respect for our roots.
My work also includes leading a team that has become family, staying strong through challenges, and continually innovating every day.
When you are the first mover in the market, you have the responsibility to protect, elevate, and continually develop the product and brand for future generations.
To me, my career means: honoring my roots, representing my community, and opening doors so others can dream, create, and leave their mark too.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Danny’s Pizza Miami Style is much more than a product. It is a story of culture, identity, and resiliency .
It is the journey of a Cuban who arrived to this country with dreams and who, even after losing everything, chose to rise again.
To our customers who enjoy our pizza today, thank you for every message, every smile, and every “this tastes like home.” Your support is what keeps us going.
To my wife, my children, my family, and my workers:
Thank you for being my rock, for walking with me, and for never letting me fall.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dannyscubanpizza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannys.cubanpizza/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dannyscubanpizza
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-rodriguez-9365b8231/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dannyspizza.miamistyle
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dannyspizza.miamistyle
