Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexa Sponcia.
Hi Alexa, 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 started working in the restaurant business at 15 in Florida. I have only been in the restaurant business and continue love it. I met my husband and our first date was at Hard Knox where we fell in love with the food. The food was so amazing and we saw an opportunity. So, we approached the owners about buying Hard Knox, and when all was said and done we bought Hard Knox on October 21, 2014. And in seven years we have grown to two stores and we are continuing to grow.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
At Certain times it has been smooth but like anyone in the business, there are always some struggles. Growing and opening new restaurants is always a challenge. But the biggest challenge has been the pandemic. Having a great team that wanted the restaurant to succeed was something that went beyond my expectations. They knocked it out of the park. Also, running a restaurant and managing a family is hard work even when there isn’t a pandemic but something that I wouldn’t change.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hard Knox Pizza?
We are a local, Knoxville-based, woman-owned (I am owner/operator), artisan pizza restaurant engaged in the authentic old-world art of making wood-fired pizza.
Everything at Hard Knox is fresh and locally sourced whenever possible, developed in-house, made fresh every day, and then cooked at over 750 degrees in our wood-fired oven.
We are heavily involved in the communities around restaurants, through the schools and local organizations.
How do you define success?
Success is having a culture that is about taking care of people and community-focused but most important a team-centered environment… and obviously revenue and happy customers. 😉
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hardknoxpizza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardknoxpizza/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hardknoxpizzeria
