How one man turned a pizza hobby into a viral YouTube sensation

USA Today

5 hours ago

What started as a hobby for 50-year-old Arron Capron, owner and head chef of The Edge Pizza in Plymouth, Massachusetts, quickly turned into something much bigger.
Once Capron took a chance on turning his passion into a business, new opportunities followed, including going viral on YouTube.
When YouTuber Shane Uriot released "Inside the 1-Man Pizza Shop Making 150 Pizzas A Night," he didn't expect it to go viral. But in just two months, the video gained over 1.1 million views, putting Capron's The Edge Pizza on the map.
How the business got started
Capron taught his kids how to make pizza and regularly invited people over to taste his recipes. It wasn't until the pandemic that he finally decided to give the pizza business a try.
"I always loved making food, especially pizza. This was an opportunity because many restaurants were closing. Now, I had a shot to try something," said Capron.
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Capron already had some local support. His first pizza shop was in a shack in Sandwich in 2021. "It was a pigeon coop."
But the pigeon coop was a hit. He moved to second place in the Plymouth area in 2022, but outgrew that one pretty fast.
Capron knew he needed even more space to cook and attract more customers, so he moved to his current downtown Plymouth pizza shop in 2023. That's when he became locally Insta-famous, with currently 6,310 followers. He also has more than 4,700 followers on Facebook.
Going viral on YouTube
Capron would post videos and pictures on Instagram of his creations. He got views from people all over the area, including up-and-coming food content YouTuber Shane Uriot, who, according to his YouTube bio, explores "the journeys of amazing chefs, farmers, and anyone making an impact in the culinary world." Uriot has 22,800 subscribers.
Uriot saw an older video of Capron and wanted to learn more about his operation. Uriot came to visit and made the viral video, "Inside the 1-Man Pizza Shop Making 150 Pizzas A Night." In the video, Capron got to share his love for pizza and how The Edge Pizza started.
The video was made months before its release, so some things about the business have changed. Today, Capron is not always a one-man show. He has two other employees who help him out. But what changed the most since the video's release is Capron's inbox.
"It's been weird. I get emails from all over the world. People from Austria, Australia, Korea and tons of people all over the United States. Now, I am kind of a consultant for people who want to do what I'm doing," said Capron.
But it's the little things that are the most rewarding for Capron.
"Anytime someone gets out their phone and takes a picture, it's a really big compliment," said Capron.
Customers are even learning of his business through social media.
Laura Marshall took a trip to check out Capron's pizza. "This is our second time coming here from Gloucester, all because my son saw it on TikTok," she said. "Just as good as the first."
How did Capron learn to make pizza
Like many great cooks, Capron learned from his family, most notably his grandmother Rosie, whose likeness is seen on the wall of the restaurant. Though rooted in Sicilian heritage, his culinary identity is equally shaped by his Detroit background.
"My great-grandfather ended up in Detroit during the automation movement, then my family moved to Brooklyn," said Capron.
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He would make pizzas in college for friends and get five-star reviews, but again, it was just a hobby. Capron was going to school to become a physical and occupational therapist assistant, a career he still maintains today along with running his restaurant and working as head chef.
What's the secret?
While Capron can't share everything, he's willing to demonstrate the basics. The Enterprise got a chance to get in the kitchen and make some pizzas. This is what we learned.
Spread the ingredients wisely
"You're going to spread the cheese out, but you don't want too much on; leave a little bit of the dough peaking through the middle of the pizza. That way you can still taste the sauce," said Capron.
It's all about timing
"You have to know exactly when to take the pizza out or else you'll burn it," said Capron.
Don't be afraid to get creative
"Pineapple does belong on pizza," he added.
On the menu
There are more than 20 different types of pizza on the menu. Capron even has some fun pizzas that are not traditional to his Sicilian roots, including "Loaded Tater" which includes a cheese blend with a garlic cream base, tater tots, sour cream, green onions and crispy potato sticks.
Fan favorite, though, is "Road to Rangoon" which includes Philly cream cheese, crab, topped with crispy fried wonton chips, scallions, sweet chili sauce and sesame seeds.
The full menu is available online.
What's next for Capron
Well, Capron doesn't want to stop with just a pizza shop. He wants to become the "Pizza Master" and teach the next generation of pizza makers.
"I can teach anybody to make pizzas. I can teach you in a day and it might just be as good as mine," said Capron.
Capron could also see himself opening a few more restaurants. While he is not opposed to starting a chain, he would need to partner with someone who understands family values. Capron said he has been sought out to open a restaurant in Boston, specifically the Seaport area.
Capron would like to keep the business in the family, but he said his kids don't have the same aspirations yet... so the plan after he retires would be to sell with one exception - the business remains a pizza shop.
The Edge Pizza address, hours
The Edge Pizza, located at 65 Main St., Plymouth, Massachusetts, is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 12:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The shop is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.