What happens when two women are handed a brick oven they don’t know how to use? For Natalia and Laura, the answer was simple – they figured it out! Sometimes the biggest dreams don’t arrive with a loud announcement.
PizzaGirls NY began when Natalia Cardona and Laura Arias were offered a brick oven someone no longer wanted. They couldn’t turn down the opportunity, even though they had no idea what they were doing. They experimented, learned, failed, laughed and kept going until the pizzas got better and even better! Eventually, what started as a curiosity and an unexpected opportunity has become a business.
If you had told Natalia and Laura at 15 years old that one day they would own a pizza business together, their answer would probably have been the same one Natalia gave us with a laugh: “Craziness.” Neither woman set out to become a pizza maker, let alone build a women-powered business in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
Today, PizzaGirls NY has grown from two women figuring things out as they went into a women-owned business with a team of nine, three food truck ovens, permanent collaborations, pop-ups, farmers markets, private events and workshops. Now, the story is coming full circle as the women prepare to open their own brick-and-mortar restaurant in the very town that has been part of their journey from the beginning, Mount Kisco. For Natalia, Mount Kisco isn’t just another location. It’s home.
Sometimes the best stories aren’t planned. Their story is about much more than pizza.
Their approach remains anything but ordinary. PizzaGirls NY create their own recipes, welcomes ideas from their team and cooks with wood instead of gas. In the beginning, Natalia and Laura even collected and cut their own wood! Asking homeowners if they could take fallen trees and even the town after storms.
That determination is part of what makes PizzaGirls NY special – it wasn’t glamorous, it wasn’t easy, but it was theirs. It is about women empowering women.
What began organically has evolved into a predominantly women-run operation. Neither Natalia nor Laura entered the pizza business thinking about the lack of women in the industry. Natalia believes confidence begins within and they both are so grateful that they were never underestimated. Natalia said if you walk into a room believing you can do something, she said there is little room for someone else to convince you otherwise.
For them, hospitality comes naturally. Natalia believes women often bring a nurturing, motherly instinct into the experience, wanting people to feel comfortable, cared for and happy. That same spirit extends to their staff, their customers, and their families.
Family is at the heart of everything they do. Natalia’s daughters love helping with the pizzas, while Laura’s son proudly tells his classmates that his mom and aunt are opening a pizza restaurant – and that it will have the best pizza in the world! Their children aren’t simply watching their mothers build a business; they’re watching them build an example.
Motherhood has taught Natalia that leadership is also about showing her daughters what is possible. She wants them to see that hard work can bring them somewhere bigger and brighter.
This doesn’t mean the journey comes without sacrifice. Time is the hardest part. There are friends they haven’t seen in months and family moments they sometimes miss.
Yet their children remain their motivation and the women make sure their kids always know they’re welcome at PizzaGirls NY with open arms.
The partnership between Natalia and Laura is another ingredient in their success. When asked to finish, “I couldn’t have built this business without…” they immediately answered, “each other.” Instantly!
Their secret? Communication, Respect and Support. Some days one brings 50 percent and the other supplies the remaining 50. They talk through disagreements, respect one another’s ideas and keep pushing forward. Their friendship even has a rule: when they’re working, they’re working. When work ends, they’re family again. Because businesses can come and go, but family remains. The most beautiful lesson in their partnership is their reminder to each other; you don’t have to carry everything alone.
PizzaGirls NY is preparing to open a new restaurant in Mount Kisco, a place that holds special meaning for both women. Natalia grew up there, while Laura remembers how warmly the community welcomed her when she came to this country and helped her learn English.
When Natalia spotted the available space, she asked Laura to slow down so she could grab the phone number. They weren’t forcing anything. They simply explored the possibility, and everything seemed to fall into place. As Natalia puts it, it felt like the stars aligned.
Their hope for the new space is simple: that everyone who walks through the doors feels loved, comfortable and welcomed. As they grow, they plan to support local businesses by sourcing from local producers whenever possible.
Ask them what success means and the answer goes far beyond great pizza. It is who they are, what they give their customers and the relationships they build.
Their food carries memories of their mothers, their childhoods and their families. Natalia’s Margarita pizza reminds her of her father and the fragrant basil he grew. Laura’s connection to Marinara brings her back to her mother. For Natalia, food is a love language – nourishing the stomach, heart and mind.
And their advice to women dreaming of starting something of their own? Listen to those who have walked the road before you. Accept help. Let go of any fear. “Just do it.”
One piece of advice Natalia recently received captures their journey perfectly: Your last pizza doesn’t define you. It’s your next one!
PizzaGirls NY started from zero, an unwanted brick oven, and two determined women willing to learn. Now, their dream is about to have a front door in the heart of Mount Kisco. The grand opening date is still one to watch for, but Westchester, keep your eyes open!
The next chapter for PizzaGirls NY may be their most exciting one yet!
PizzaGirls NY
38 East Main Street, Mount Kisco
(914)454-9848
www.pizzagirlsny.com
IG: pizzagirlsny