Scott Sandler traded in life as real estate investment broker for the challenges and joys of making authentic Neapolitan pizza in St. Louis' Soulard neighborhood.

STLtoday.com reports Sandler is a pizza fanatic — but this was just a hobby. Then, after a plan to start a new real-estate firm fell through last year, Sandler, at right, toyed with the idea of opening a restaurant, even scouted locations, but decided against it. When his next real-estate job didn’t pan out, however, he figured this was his chance. In August, he signed a lease for the storefront at the corner of South 12th Street and Allen Avenue in Soulard.

Learn how Sandler refined his pizza-making technique and how he plans to make Pizzeoli a success.