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How I Built My Small Business · Sep 9, 2025 · 31 min

Chris Smith - What it really takes to run Award-Winning SONOMA PIZZA CO.

Chris Smith is the co-founder and co-owner of Sonoma Pizza Co., an artisan pizzeria in Forestville, California, which he launched in 2022 with his wife, Eda Atasoy. After three decades in San Francisco’s nightlife and hospitality world… running spots like The Pawn Shop, Monarch, The Great Northern, and even the record label Om Records… Chris shifted his focus from nightlife to culinary craft. He trained with renowned pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani and, together with executive chef Carl Shelton, developed a signature dough rooted in Michelin-level technique. Sonoma Pizza Co. is known for its naturally leavened sourdough crust, cold-fermented for 72 hours, and made with organic, locally sourced ingredients. In just two years, the restaurant has been named one of Yelp Elite’s "Top 50 places to eat in the Bay Area" and was voted "Best Pizza in Sonoma County" by Visit Sonoma. Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube. Let’s connect! Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost

0:00 · Meet Chris Smith of Sonoma Pizza Co-31:22

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Chris Smith is the co-founder and co-owner of Sonoma Pizza Co., an artisan pizzeria in Forestville, California, which he launched in 2022 with his wife, Eda Atasoy. 

After three decades in San Francisco’s nightlife and hospitality world… running spots like The Pawn Shop, Monarch, The Great Northern, and even the record label Om Records… Chris shifted his focus from nightlife to culinary craft.

He trained with renowned pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani and, together with executive chef Carl Shelton, developed a signature dough rooted in Michelin-level technique. 

Sonoma Pizza Co. is known for its naturally leavened sourdough crust, cold-fermented for 72 hours, and made with organic, locally sourced ingredients.

In just two years, the restaurant has been named one of Yelp Elite’s "Top 50 places to eat in the Bay Area" and was voted "Best Pizza in Sonoma County" by Visit Sonoma.

Subscribe on Apple Podcast , Spotify or YouTube.

Let’s connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter: Time To Live: Thriving in Business and Beyond

Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemcginty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemcgintyhost


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