Black Owned, Adults Only Pizzeria Relocates to Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida– The Smoking Pie, which once resided in New York City, has since relocated to Miami Beach, where it has been operating as a celebrity hot spot ever since its reopening after the pandemic. This modern artisanal pizza shop is the first and only “adults only” pizzeria, offering both pizza pies, as well as hookah and cocktails.
As a black owned business, The Smoking Pie offers a unique experience to its patrons, as Michael Laboy, owner and founder (alongside his wife) works tirelessly to provide something of quality to the nightlife of Miami. Laboy started his entrepreneurial journey by opening a number of bars/lounges/clubs and realized along the way that he wanted to create something more original. HIs passion for the food industry drove him to create a combination of a restaurant and lounge, serving “good food and good times” to its patrons.
The Smoking Pie serves 12”, personal pizza pies that come in a variety of artisanal and unique flavors. Laboy works to stand out from the competition by creating new and innovative menu items that keep customers coming back to try every new flavor combination. From lobster and shrimp pizza pies, to classic pepperoni and cheese, The Smoking Pie is creating a robust rotation of menu options in hopes of satisfying a wide variety of clients.
After starting The Smoking Pie In New York City, back in 2018, Laboy was forced to close the company’s doors when the coronavirus pandemic rocked the restaurant industry. Many restaurants were forced to close their doors due to government-mandated social distancing and other health and safety measures. This had caused a massive disruption within the industry, with many restaurants suffering from reduced sales and a lack of customers. In addition, businesses have had to rapidly adapt to the new reality of take-out and delivery orders, contactless payment methods, and other online services in order to stay afloat.
Despite many of these challenges, The Smoking Pie found a new home, in Miami Beach, where the brand has been thriving. Laboy explains that the biggest challenge that he faced was raising the money to open this business in the first place, and then having to shut it down. The relocation was a hard and risky choice, but it is one that he expresses he had to make, for the good of his family and his business’s potential success.
“I didn’t know the outcome,” he says when discussing the relocation of The Smoking Pie. “It was scary, not knowing what was going to happen. But my wife and I faced the pandemic and came out ok, so I knew that I had to put a little faith in myself to make it happen for us.” Laboy and his wife never lost their dream with The Smoking Pie, and say that this relocation was the best possible decision that they could have made at the time, with what they had.
With the world shifting with each change or disaster that arises, Laboy explains that, as an entrepreneur, one must always be on the lookout for innovation. The Smoking Pie has rolled with the changes by being ready and willing to reinvent itself and by being open to adopting change. Miami Beach is now the brand’s new home, and Laboy and his team are thrilled for what the future holds.
“Change is the only thing that is constant in business,” says Laboy, “and no one can make any profits with age-old thinking methods. An entrepreneur should always have an open mind to learn new things.”
The Smoking Pie is a restaurant and bar/lounge that serves pizza pies as well as drinks and offers a Hookah service. The company is excited about its two year anniversary since its relocation in Miami Beach, Florida. The store is located at 1625 Michigan Ave, and operates as an adults only pizzeria. For more information regarding The Smoking Pie, visit their website.
(305) 397-8404