The Loop Pizza Grill, Winston Salem

For Mike and Terry Schneider, opening the first Loop Pizza Grill franchise more than two decades ago was a culinary hail-mary. The Schneiders had struck gold with their first foray into the restaurant industry—Jacksonville's popular Applejacks franchise—but that success did not follow them when they expanded to a second location. Saddled with unused kitchen equipment, they came up with a bold idea: double down and create the perfect pizza place.

The Schneiders knew that pizza joints were magnets for the young and hurried crowd, so they set out to craft a menu that would also appeal to the discerning palate. They stocked their kitchen with hand-picked ingredients and used real china to plate their pizzas, fire-grilled burgers, and salads. The couple's gamble paid off and The Loop Pizza Grill was a hit—and it still thrives today. Since opening its first spot in 1988, The Loop has popped up in 14 locations in two states, much like a pizza delivery boy with a very fast bike.