Maria "Rio" Rivers

Born and bred in Birmingham, Alabama, the art of pizza making has always intertwined in my life. From my first job at Papa Johns, to my struggling artist "side hustle" in Atlanta at Slice, and now, in Charleston South Carolina owning and operating Rio's Woodfire. It seems flipping dough and pizza making shows up throughout my whole life. Opening and building pizza dough for Neon Tiger from 2020 to 2023 taught me plant based pizza building and has truly broadened my horizon. I've carried over many secrets of the trade from that experience as well as building ethical business that benefits community and our beautiful planet. I'm honored to invest my life inventing new ways to incorporate functional food with Rio's Woodfire pizzas.