In a historical period marked by the pandemic, many businesses have had to reinvent themselves. This is the case of Paolo Baldi, founder of Pookie Box in Bergamo, who turned a crisis into an opportunity to realize his dream in the restaurant world.
From Events to Kitchen: The Birth of Pookie Box
Before the health emergency, Paolo Baldi was involved in event organization. With the arrival of the pandemic, this sector suffered a hard blow, pushing Paolo to dedicate himself to his passion for cooking. Thus, on February 8, 2021, his birthday, he inaugurated Pookie Box, a gastronomic laboratory that combines tradition and innovation.
Initially conceived as a pizza place, Pookie Box quickly evolved into a gourmet burger place, offering a wide range of dishes, with a particular focus on artisanal burgers, up to first and second courses of Italian cuisine.
The introduction of Space Buns: a winning gamble
One of Pookie Box's innovations was the introduction of Space Buns, a product that further enriched the restaurant's menu. The discovery of this product occurred thanks to Paolo's father, who, during a trade show, showed interest in a new machine for preparing these particular buns. Despite initial skepticism, Paolo decided to test the product, being impressed by both the quality and the low costs of the machine and the food cost.
Space Buns have proven to be extremely versatile: they can be prepared in about a minute, with pre-made fillings, and sold at a competitive price, ensuring a good profit margin. This speed of preparation makes them ideal for trade shows and events where it is essential to serve customers quickly.
Paolo has integrated Space Buns into the menu in different variations, both sweet and savory, offering options for vegetarians and fish lovers. Their lightness and versatility also make them suitable as a quick lunch or a tasty snack. Thanks to this intuition, in a month and a half Paolo was able to repay the investment in the machine, demonstrating the validity of his entrepreneurial choice.
A future full of prospects
Pookie Box's success doesn't stop there. Paolo is considering opening a new location in a seaside location, convinced that products like Space Buns can adapt perfectly to different contexts and further expand the brand's gastronomic offering.
The story of Paolo Baldi and Pookie Box is an example of how, with passion and resourcefulness, it is possible to transform difficulties into opportunities, innovating in the restaurant sector and offering customers original and quality products.