A Propensity for Pizza

Trident Technical College alumnus Ben D’Allesandro isn't sure that he would have been able to open D’Allesandro’s Pizza with his brother, Nick, in 2006, without the money he saved by attending TTC.

“College is insanely expensive,” said D’Allesandro, “I’d still be paying off loans if I had stayed on the traditional route.”

The traditional route was to graduate high school and go away to a four-year college, which he did, leaving his home in Bala Cynwyd, PA for the College of Charleston (CofC) in 1998.

But his head wasn’t really in it.

“It wasn’t even because I was partying too much,” he said, “I think it just wasn’t my time.”

He left CofC after a year and continued working at Gilroy’s Pizza near the campus, which is where he learned the business and developed a passion for pizza-making.

But college was a priority, and he knew he needed to finish.

Ben's mother mother and uncle were first generation college graduates, and Ben's mom earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Both she and Ben's father, who is a member of the commercial HVAC union in Pennsylvania, “would not let me go through life without a college degree,” he said.

When he decided it was time to go back to school, he chose Trident Technical College because it made the most sense financially. He was able to continue living and working downtown while attending Palmer Campus.

“The instructors at TTC were very kind and patient,” said D’Allesandro. “You could tell they wanted you to be successful.”

He graduated in 2002 with an Associate of Arts, which prepared him for a return to CofC, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies, City Planning and Administration.

The brothers opened their first restaurant on St. Phillip Street in 2006, and in 2020 they opened a location in the Nexton area of Summerville. They also have a franchise in Greenville.

D’Allesandros Pizza, often referred to as D’Al’s, is known for its creative and delicious handcrafted pizzas made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. It stands out for its laid-back neighborhood atmosphere, friendly service and focus on customization.

Nick manages the Summerville location and Ben manages downtown, where he lives just blocks away with his wife, Jenifer, and their four children.

Recently, he generously sponsored the Employee Giving Campaign winning team pizza party, personally delivering pizza and salads from his downtown location.

D’Allesandro is grateful for his experience at TTC and thinks anyone who wants to get a college degree should attend a 2-year college first.

“I will definitely encourage my own children to start at TTC,” said D’Allesandro.  “No matter what they choose, I know that they will get exactly what they need.”