Pizza Today - May 2019 - 45
B
efore Detroit-style pizza became the hit
thing outside of the Motor City, trailblazers
Brandon and Zane Hunt decided to bring
their hometown pizza to Austin, Texas. It
wasn't called Detroit-style pizza then. It was
just pizza.
The Hunt brothers grew up on the signature
rectangular pie with sauce on top and caramelized edges.
Famed Detroit spots like Buddy's, Loui's and Niki's were
their stomping grounds. Life for Brandon and Zane in
those days were tough. "We're just two brothers from
lower middle-class Detroit, came from very little to
nothing, a broken home, a drug house, grew up in that
drug scene...," Zane says of their upbringing.
OVERCOMING EARLY HARDSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT
HAS GOTTEN LOST in the plethora of national media
attention the brothers have received. "You don't see a lot
of people climbing rungs on the socioeconomic ladder,"
Zane says. "You just don't see that, and we are a success
story about that. It was hard for us early on. We weren't
surrounded by success. We weren't surrounded by people
who had money. We always say 'We didn't learn what the
right thing to do was. We usually just knew what not to
do.' We don't always know the right thing to do. We've
had to learn. For the most part, we are completely self-
made. That's like the old American Dream."
You wouldn't know of those modest beginnings when
you see the pizza influence they've created in the Lone
Star State. They've built an Austin icon that locals and
tourists flock to for a genuine Detroit pizza. Via 313 has
three brick-and-mortar locations and two permanently
placed trailers, that combine to crush a staggering
$12 million in annual sales last year. The pizza company
is poised to break into the Top 10 on this year's Hot 100
Independent Pizzerias list.
Pizza Today caught up with the Hunt brothers at the
North Campus location in March to talk shop and see
what makes Via 313 tick. The thing you notice when you
enter Via 313 is "genuine" etched on a brick wall, perhaps
foretelling the forthcoming pizza experience. Black is
dominant on the walls, tabletops and black and chrome
stools. It's mixed with some industrial features as subtle
tributes to Detroit's automotive boom.
As the Hunt brothers begin to talk about the business
they've found, it's clear to see that Brandon is the yin
to Zane's yang. The two complement each other in
conversation and traits. They lead the pizza company by
gravitating towards their own strengths and interests that
balance the business perfectly.
Zane came out to Austin first in 2009. His new city
was void of what he knew as pizza. It sparked Zane and
SELF-MADE
HUNT BROTHERS'
VIA 313 INITIATES
DETROIT-STYLE
PIZZA'S MOVE
WEST
S t o r y By DENISE GREER
Pho t os by JOSH KEOWN
M AY 2 0 1 9 / P I Z Z AT O D AY. C O M / 4 5
http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pizza Today - May 2019
Pizza Today - May 2019
Commentary
Contents
Contributors
Expo Spotlight
@ Pizza Today
Conversation
Man on the Street
Tony’s Trending Recipe
Knead to Know
Destinations
Customer Wifi
Ravioli Fillings
Chicago Thin-Style Pizza
Social Media Advertising
Pizza Expo Wrap Up
Pizza Today on the Road: Via 313, Austin, Tx
Product Showcase
Pizza Today Yellow Pages
The Marketplace
Reader’s Resource
Mike’s Monthly Tip
Pizza Today - May 2019 - CT1
Pizza Today - May 2019 - CT2
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Pizza Today - May 2019
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Cover2
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Commentary
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 4
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 5
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Contents
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 7
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Contributors
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 9
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Expo Spotlight
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 11
Pizza Today - May 2019 - @ Pizza Today
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 13
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Conversation
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 15
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Man on the Street
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 17
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Tony’s Trending Recipe
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 19
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Knead to Know
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 21
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 22
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 23
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Destinations
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 25
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Customer Wifi
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 27
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 28
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 29
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Ravioli Fillings
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 31
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 32
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 33
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Chicago Thin-Style Pizza
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 35
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Social Media Advertising
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 37
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 38
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 39
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Pizza Expo Wrap Up
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 41
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 42
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 43
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Pizza Today on the Road: Via 313, Austin, Tx
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 45
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 46
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 47
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Product Showcase
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 49
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Pizza Today Yellow Pages
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 51
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 52
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 53
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 54
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 55
Pizza Today - May 2019 - The Marketplace
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 57
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 58
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 59
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 60
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 61
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 62
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 63
Pizza Today - May 2019 - 64
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Reader’s Resource
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Mike’s Monthly Tip
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Cover3
Pizza Today - May 2019 - Cover4
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