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Twelve years ago, two guys in a baby blue 1967 Chevy truck were blasting 90s hip-hop at a D.C. farmers market and slinging wood-fired pizza to anyone who'd listen. Today, that operation is closing in on 10 locations and building a national franchise.
In this episode, we sit down with Chris Brady, co-founder and president of Timber Pizza Co. Chris and his partner Andrew Dana traded tech sales careers for a pizza oven in 2014, opened their first brick-and-mortar in D.C.'s Petworth neighborhood in 2016 and have since expanded across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Now he's focused on franchising the right way: slow, intentional and rooted in the same community-first values that started it all.
Here's what Chris gets into:
· The origin story: Why he and Andrew walked away from tech sales, and how a Charlottesville pizza truck sparked the whole thing
· Timber's pizza style: Marrying New York-style crunch and hold with Neapolitan wood-fired chew, plus why provolone earns a spot in the cheese blend
· The 85/15 model: Keeping 85% of every Timber consistent while leaving 15% for local flair like regional craft beer and neighborhood decor
· The dough non-negotiable: Scratch-made recipe with a strict 48-hour proof at every single location, no exceptions
· Vetting franchise partners: Why integrity, a real operational plan and the right market matter more than the check that clears
· Building employee culture: Tip pooling across the house, wages above the tipped minimum and a "we've got your back" approach that's driven five to six year average tenure
· Advice for growing operators: Pay the pros, delegate your weaknesses early and be honest about where you're not the A player
· The road ahead: Staying committed to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, with a goal of five to six new stores in 2026 to reach the 15 to 16 unit range
Show Notes:
Timber Pizza Co.
Pizza Expo Columbus
July 2026 issue of Pizza Today magazine
