Doug, Owner of Positano’s Pizzeria in Fort Collins, CO

I came across a pleasant surprise in Fort. Collins, Colorado while I visited there in July. I was in search of pizzerias and found Positano’s on College, just near Horsetooth. I met Doug and asked for an interview. Here is the result:

When and where did you make your first pizza?

It was in Boulder in 1978, a place in south Boulder. I knew the owner and I went in there and made some pizzas. I didn’t even work there. I was in real estate at the time.

How did you wind up owning your own pizzeria?

In 1992, here in Ft. Collins, we started Pulcinella  Pizza. I split with the co-owners in 1996. Then in 1997, I opened Positano’s. This restaurant was the original Punicellos.

What career were you in before entering the pizza business?

I was in real estate and also worked for a wine distributor in Boston. I left this area for six years to work back east.

With Fort Collins being a college town, does the school year bring much fluctuation to your business?

Fort Collins, is not just a college town? This is also a tech town. We have Hewlett Packard, ASI and Intel. So the college is not a driving force for business here at Positano’s.

What are the most popular toppings here at Positano’s Pizzeria?

Well, the most popular pizza topping in America is pepperoni. The most popular Positano’s pizza is our White Pizza. It’s basically a tomato salad on top of a pizza.

What are your most popular non-pizza menu items?

We have great meatball sandwiches and sausage sandwiches. I’d say we probably have the best sausage sandwich in town. Positano’s most popular pasta is our cheese ravioli.

What is a Positano? How did you choose Positano’s for a name?

(he pointed to a photo on the wall) That’s Positano. It’s a town in Italy. It’s where the Empress of Italy went to get away. The nobility of Italy visited Positano to relax.

Have you ever had any famous customers eat a Positano’s Pizza?

We had John Ashton, the guy who played Sgt. Taggert on Beverly Hills Cop in here. He used to live in Ft. Collins. (Ashton has also appeared in many television series, the latest being Fairly Legal on USA).

What’s the best compliment your pizza has ever received.

We have people from back east come into Positano’s for a slice. Sometimes, they tell me that their pizzeria back home is better. But they haven’t been back for years. Time passes. They go back home. They eat at their favorite pizzeria. When they come back in here, they tell me Positano’s has better pizza than their favorite pizzeria back in New York. You can’t get a better compliment than that.

Finally, I ask in every interview if there’s something you can share with our readers that no one may know about you. Do you have anything you can share today?

I’ve got neopolitan hands. They’re small hands. Not good for boxing, but they’re good for making pizza. (Doug tells me this is a quote from Robert DiNiro from the film Raging Bull. I’m going to have to watch that movie now).