Success Story: Pizza Carrello

Pizza Carrello: From Food Cart to Full-Service Restaurant

Business Origins

Pizza Carrello first began as a meager homemade food cart in 2011. They set up their cart on street corners, business parking lots, parks, and at special events. As the business grew, Pizza Carrello scaled its business up from a food cart to a 7,000sq ft restaurant that seats 140 customers in Gilette, WY.

Restaurant Offerings

The restaurant features a 14-seat bar with 20 taps serving Wyoming beers, Wyoming Spirits, craft cocktails, and a rotating wine selection. They offer wood-fired cuisine including:

• Pizzas
• Artisan bread
• Made-from-scratch pasta
• Appetizers
• Salads
• Wraps
• Desserts

Founders’ Journey

Ariane Jimison and Rachel Kalenberg started their company with only $400 in startup funds. They built every aspect of the business from scratch, including:

• Logo design
• Marketing campaigns
• First wood oven pizza trailer
• Original menu development

SBDC Support

The Wyoming SBDC provided crucial support in:

• SBA loan assistance
• COVID-19 relief funding
• Business growth planning
• Management consulting
• One-on-one advising
• Training and workshops

Major Achievements

• Expanded from food cart to 7,000 sq ft restaurant seating 140 customers
• Awarded ‘Small Business People of The Year’ for Wyoming
• Ongoing restaurant remodel to add more seating
• Successfully navigated COVID-19 pandemic

Community Impact

Pizza Carrello has become a Gillette institution, known for quality wood-fired cuisine and commitment to using Wyoming products whenever possible.