Today we’d like to introduce you to Renato Viola.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Renato. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Mister O1 was born from the idea that an extraordinary pizza requires the utmost attention to detail and the finest ingredients, the necessary tools for an artist to produce a masterpiece.
I moved to Miami under the O1 Visa category (our previous name was Visa-O1), reserved for those with ‘extraordinary artistic ability’ of internationally acclaimed fame. I decided to open the first location with the intention of creating something truly extraordinary.
We open our first location in 2014 at 1680 Michigan Ave in Miami Beach, then the Brickell one in 2016 (1000 S Miami Ave) and the Wynwood one just recently at the end of 2017. We became popular since the beginning and things are going very well for us. We are planning on expanding in Florida and outside the States.
Has it been a smooth road?
Our first big challenge was our first location in Miami Beach.
We opened where no one else would! The pizzeria is located in an office building that has absolutely no signage at all. Is about 18/20 seats only and either you know how to get there or it will be difficult to find it.
Since opening, the restaurant has remained packed every day of the week, with all of our customers coming by word of mouth. We were a bit scared at the beginning but I believe that no matter where are you located if you have a quality product and a nice customer service, costumers will come find you.
The first year so many people in Miami were talking about us, about that famous hidden spot. From then, now our sign under the logo in Brickell and Wynwood says: “That famous hidden place.”
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the corporate chef of the company. I manage the three pizzerias and I love it. I start making pizzas when I was 11 years old, pizza is my passion, my life!
I am pretty well known because of all my achievements and awards in the past years. Because of this, I was able to get my O1 Visa, reserved to people with extraordinary ability by sustained national and international acclaim.
Our vision is to share a unique experience given by the simplicity of international culinary experience. The recipe for our success is quality and consistency. Mister O1 is more than a meal, it’s an experience: from the rustic ambiance to the alluring aroma of freshly baked pizza and the smile planted on our team, customers return to the pizzeria again and again,
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I believe Miami is a very difficult market. Every month they open different new restaurants, the city is growing every day and many foreigners are investing in Miami. But at the same time, every year many restaurants and concepts closed. There is a big competition and customers are very needy and they won’t give you a second chance most of the time.
I believe Miami is still a growing market with a lot of potentials. To the ones who want to start a business here I recommend to be well prepared and understand the market first. Many new restaurants rush to open but it is better to take one more month before opening and make sure you did an amazing training and everything is perfect because, as I said before, the will not give you a second chance if something goes wrong the first time.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1680 Michigan Ave (SOUTH BEACH)
1000 S Miami Ave (BRICKELL)
2315 N Miami Ave (WYNWOOD) - Website: www.misterO1.com
- Phone: +1 305-397-8189 (SOUTH BEACH)
+1 786 332 6868 (BRICKELL)
+1 786-991-9343 (WYNWOOD) - Email: info@mistero1.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mistero1extraordinarypizza/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MisterO1ExtraordinaryPizza/?ref=bookmarks
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