This powerful episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show is a masterclass in resilience, redemption, and the unbreakable spirit of a true entrepreneur. Host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Johnny Yarusi, the founder of the New Jersey institution Johnny's Pork Roll and Coffee Too, for a raw, authentic, and deeply moving conversation about building a beloved brand from the ashes of a life turned upside down.
Johnny takes listeners on his incredible journey, starting from a...
This powerful episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show is a masterclass in resilience, redemption, and the unbreakable spirit of a true entrepreneur. Host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Johnny Yarusi, the founder of the New Jersey institution Johnny's Pork Roll and Coffee Too, for a raw, authentic, and deeply moving conversation about building a beloved brand from the ashes of a life turned upside down.
Johnny takes listeners on his incredible journey, starting from a moment of absolute crisis. He recounts a period where he faced a perfect storm of personal and professional collapse: his successful advertising agency imploded, a hurricane devastated his world, his father passed away, and his marriage ended. Left with nothing and unable to find a job, he found himself working as a barista for $10 an hour, a humbling fall that became the unlikely launchpad for his next chapter.
Discover how, fueled by prayer and a deep-seated desire to create, Johnny channeled his energy into a singular vision: to celebrate and elevate New Jersey’s most iconic comfort food. With just $5,000, he bought a beat-up Grumman truck from under a bridge, built it out himself, and hit the streets. He shares the unfiltered stories of the early days—the hustle, the grind, and getting chased by the police—all while building a grassroots following one delicious pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich at a time.
This episode goes far beyond business tactics. It’s a profound exploration of what it means to build a brand with soul. Johnny discusses his transition from a scrappy food truck to a beloved brick-and-mortar community hub, and the challenges of scaling while maintaining the quality and passion that started it all. He and Justin delve into the spiritual nature of hospitality, framing the act of feeding people as a sacred trust and a platform for creating connection and positive impact.
This is a story about second chances. It’s about how the darkest moments can forge an unbreakable purpose, and how a simple, nostalgic food, when prepared with love and integrity, can become a symbol of hope and community. Tune in for an unforgettable conversation that is packed with hard-earned wisdom, grit, and a powerful reminder that sometimes, you have to lose everything to find out what truly matters.
IG: @porkrolltruck
Address: www.johnnyporkroll.com
Location: 8A Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ.
Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast
Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )
Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.
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Free Podcast. No Advertisements. The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business. What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?
JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS
Email: justin.bizzarro@gmail.com
Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )
All music is scored by host or royalty free.
