Business & Tech

Lessons in Business from the Owners of Old Town Pizza Company

Owners of the Orland Park pizzeria share what they've learned about sustaining their business in our first Business Survival Tips.

Jonathan Cowan picked a tough time to start in business. He purchased an franchise at 11128 W. 179th St in 2008, just as the economy started its tumble.

But two-and-a-half years later, he is still in business in an area with plenty of established pizzerias.

Along the way, he and his wife Brianna learned a few lessons about thriving in a tough economy:

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

  • Pre-portioning cheese for different pizza sizes saves them about $10,000 a year. More precise amounts and fewer spills
  • Installing an air conditioner was worth it, even with higher electricity costs. Employees are happier and their equipment is less taxed by heat
  • Keeping only about three days of fresh ingredients on hand instead of two weeks worth — which was done there before — means less waste
  • Take advice from successful people
  • Be willing to help fellow businesses in your field
  • Train each employee to do every job needed

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here