15 Years of PV Burger: Building a Cult Following with Grit, Quality & By Staying Independent | EP224

What started with a Craigslist ad and a love of food turned into one of Arizona’s most recognizable independent burger spots.In Episode 224 of On The Delo, Delo sits down with Bret Shapiro, Chef/Owner of Paradise Valley Burger Company, to talk about 15+ years of PV Burger, the realities of restaurant ownership, and why Bret has never been interested in following the traditional growth playbook.Bret shares the story behind taking over the original restaurant, building a loyal crew and customer base, and eventually moving PV Burger from its longtime 40th Street and Bell Road location to Scottsdale. They get into staying independent, using his own capital to grow, keeping restaurant footprints small, navigating rising costs, and the advice Bret has followed from the beginning: if something has to change, raise the price before you lower the quality.Of course, they talk burgers too—from the story behind the Burger Brulee and Paradise Burger to the TV appearances that put PV Burger in front of a national audience, including Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Man v. Food, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Check, Please! Bret also shares what’s next, his early-morning routine, and why after 15 years in business, consistency still matters more than hype.Chapter Guide (Timestamps)(0:00 - 3:24) Welcome, Meeting Bret Shapiro, and the PV Burger Office Story(3:24 - 7:23) Origin Story: From Music to Food and a Craigslist Ad That Changed Everything(7:23 - 11:10) Losing the Lease at 40th and Bell and the Overnight Move to Scottsdale(11:10 - 14:21) Taking Care of the Crew and Whether Chefs Make Good Business Owners(14:21 - 18:03) Staying Independent, Lease Advice, and Reading Today's Arizona Market(18:03 - 20:39) Footprint, Dine-In vs. Takeout Shift, and Learning From Deluxe Burger(20:39 - 25:06) Fries, Jalapeno Ranch, and the Stories Behind the Burger Brulee and Paradise Burger(25:06 - 28:02) Life on TV: Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, Man v. Food, and Guy's Grocery Games(28:02 - 30:19) The Hardest Part of 15 Years and Why You Never Step Down on Quality(30:19 - 34:25) Morning Routine, Walking With Dad, and Changing His Relationship With Alcohol(34:25 - 35:22) What's Next: A New Sandwich Shop and Reviving Paradise Valley Pizza(35:22 - 38:23) Rapid Fire: Trucks, Scuba, Sushi, and a Month of Travel(38:23 - 39:39) Social Handles, Closing Thoughts, and Supporting Local Restaurants👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, hit Subscribe for more conversations with the people building businesses, restaurants, and brands their own way.💬 Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway and share this episode with someone in the restaurant or hospitality industry.🍔 Check out Paradise Valley Burger Company at https://pvburgercompany.com/💼 Connect with Bret Shapiro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-shapiro-5a5857176LINKS:🔗 Connect with Delo: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo📚 Grab Delo's FREE eBook: https://iamthedelo.com/3f-method-book🤝 Delo's Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect👥 Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/IAmTheDelo📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamthedelo💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/daviddelorenzo1🍽️ Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe   DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025