(Jana Rossi)
EL DORADO HILLS, CA. — After 15 years working under a Mountain Mike’s franchise agreement, Sal and Sandi Viscuso wanted to call their own shots. Earlier this year, when the franchise lease was up at their El Dorado Hills restaurant, they chose not to renew — deciding instead to add their own spin to what was a cookie cutter operation under their franchise agreement.
The Viscusos kept the location, changed the name, spiced up the menu and couldn’t be happier.
Sal and Sandi’s story began in the mid ’80s when they met while attending California State University, Sacramento. Sal was working in finance and Sandi in electronics and they had two young girls at home they didn’t want to miss time with. Both knew they needed to ditch the 9-to-5 world to make that happen. Sal, being Sicilian, said pizza was a natural choice. They opened the El Dorado Hills Mountain Mike’s Pizza and later followed with two additional Mountain Mike’s in Cameron Park and Granite Bay, both of which have since been sold.
So, what has changed now that the franchise is gone and Viscuso’s Pizza & Draft House is open?
“Everything,” Sal shared. “Our dough and sauce are made from scratch and our cheese is made using […]