Meet Dee (dharini) Dalal of canton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dee (dharini) Dalal

Hi Dee (Dharini), so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all started with love for food. Good and tasty cooking for my family and seeing them enjoy the food.
After kids went to College, gave me ample of free time, initiated a through that i should do something that keep me busy and i can explore my love for food. With the help of my hubby, we started exploring the opportunities and finally settle down to the Toarmina’s Canton store. We took over the store in October 2019. The Franchisee owner Lou Toarmina is a gem of a person. He guided us well, trained us well and gave enough support whenever we needed it. While we are know for our BIG 24″ Party Pizza, we were able to develop Enhanced Party catering Menu for Office parties, Birthday Parties, Family Gathering, Pajama Party, Community gathering etc. We also organize fund raising for various schools, sports teams, non profits and more. We do donate Pizza to needy people, provide food or gift cards to non profit organization events etc. and provide our support as much as possible.

But then COVID hit. As you know how badly food restaurants and other businesses were affected specially with supply chain issue, people issue and what not. It was tough time, but fought back. Some employee’s support gave us strength to continue the operation. As we know challenges bring the opportunities too. Similarly, Covid help us too. Gave us an opportunity to serve the community in need ( as lot of restaurant closed down) and get their blessing. It also gave us a time to do research and help us to decide on introducing the Vegan Pizza. We learn that Michigan was part of top 10 us states where we have huge Vegan population but they do not have good options, especially Pizza. We started searching and testing the Vegan products. Vegan food producers supported us well as, we believe no one was offering Hot, Fresh and Tasty Vegan Pizza during that time. After several attempts and iterations, we were able to finalize the recipe and it became a huge success. More then marketing, our customer became our brand ambassadors. Now we have customers coming from not just Detroit and Troy but from Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and other parts of Michigan as well as Ohio, Texas, Chicago and other states too as well as From Canada. We felt very blessed. Of course, all these happened due to support from our employees, some local vegan promoting organizations and our Vegan product suppliers. We train our employee to take enough precautions while handling vegan ingredients and making Vegan pizza and avoid./minimize any possible cross contamination. At Toarmina’s Canton location, we believe in Customer First. We do not compromise in product that we serve. Always using quality ingredients. We Shred Cheese inhouse, we cut fresh Vegetables, we make fresh dough from scratch and make Pizza with love. At Toarminas Canton location, we think BIG, and keep bigger vision. Always looking for better product that we can offer to our customers and community. We participate Pizza Expo in Las Vegas every other year to learn new trends and bring it to our pizzeria for our customers benefit. Last year we introduced new Gluten Free pizza crust, and that became popular quickly. Gluten Free community across the metro Detroit loved it and supported it. We are so happy and proud to state that we are able to eliminate thrust of good and tasty pizza like original for Vegan and Gluten Free communities.

This year we have added Halal food options as our customer started demanding same. We are building business for Halal Pizza and hope that we will be successful as we were for Vegan and Gluten free pizza.

We trust and believe in technology and invest in same for betterment. Our location is first one in Toarminas Chain, who introduce POS ( Point of Sale) system like BIG Pizza chains with our own Websites and effective Online Ordering. Again, I want to Thank our Community, Our Employees and our Food distributors and my family for our success. This would not have been such a great success without their active participation and guidance. Our store can be reached at 734.981.0060 or you can learn more about us and place an order online at ToarminasCanton.Com

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We bough Location in October 2019 and January 2020 Covid Hit
Covid brought several challenges such as food supply shortage, Employee sickness and availability , following COVID guideline and surviving

We have several competitors Pizza stores in within 3 mile radius which always keep us on our feet

Increased cost of employees, Ingredients cost, Utility cost after covid

But we do not see struggle as challenges, we see them as opportunities and that is what keeping us apart from our competitors

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
When Kid come to store with Parents and the expression that we see on his or her face after seeing our BIG 24″ pizza….Priceless

When Customer tell us that they travelled from so far distance to eat our pizza and it was worth it

When customer tells us , you guys makes the best Pizza

When my employees tell us that they enjoy working with us

Every five start review make me Happy

we have more reason to be happy and smile and we want to keep it that way only

Pricing:

• Pizza ranging $6.99 to $39.99

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ToarminasCanton.Com
• Instagram: @toarminasPizzaCanton
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToarminasPizzaCanton
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/toarminas-pizza-canton?osq=pizza
• Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant-Review-g42041-d925497-Reviews-Toarmina_s_Pizza_Canton-Canton_Michigan.html