So, he takes a chance on hot sauce store? We like the sound of that. Actually, it’s encouraging to see another hot shop open up in, or near, Joe’s hometown in Florida. It gives us lots of shopping options when we go down to visit. This quip came from an article from a recent edition of the Bradenton Herald online:

When life gave him lemons, Chuck Rizzo decided it was time to spice things up.

Rizzo was one of the hundreds of people directly affected by the slowdown in the housing market. He was laid off from his customer service job at Lee Wetherington Homes this year.

To him, it was a sign that he should take a risk and follow a years-long dream of opening a fiery foods store.

“I knew this was my opportunity to prove to myself that this could work,” said Rizzo, a backyard grilling aficionado. “I love to experiment with hot sauces, barbecue sauces and dry rubs from around the country.

“Equipped with a six-pack, close friends and a rack of ribs, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

To make it happen, Rizzo cashed out his retirement savings account, sold his 2007 Dodge Ram pickup and took out a small business loan. He went to a Fiery Foods show in New Mexico earlier this year to make contacts and learn everything he could.

He finally opened “Big Daddy’s Fiery Foods” two weeks ago in Sarasota’s Gulf Gate shopping district at 6555 Gateway Ave.

In addition to more than 400 varieties of hot sauces, dry rubs and seasonings, Rizzo offers jerky and dried sausage made from elk and buffalo and all the equipment to make your own jerky. Also available are a variety of charcoal smokers, turkey fryers and grilling utensils.

He will special order products and offers gift baskets for sale.

The store is open daily. For hours and information, call Rizzo at 922-8357.

Click here to read the rest of the source article from the Bradenton Herald