Articles | The Last Round Tavern

Boxing, Business & Personal Development

In this episode I interview Caleb Orozco to discuss his journey from amateur boxing to personal development and eventually opening his business, The Last Round Tavern in San Jose. Caleb talks about his family's influence, his educational background in city planning, and the lessons he's learned from boxing and personal development programs like '75 Hard.' We also delve into his new role in revitalizing the East Village district in San Jose.

The Story of Caleb Orozco & The Last Round Tavern

Caleb Orozco recounts how he built his pizzeria, Last Round Tavern, from the ground up. He shares how his travels exposed him to various pizzerias and broadened his knowledge, eventually leading him to his ideal pizza.

Leading With Excellence at The Last Round Tavern

Caleb discusses his personal development journey and how it shaped him to become a better leader at Last Round Tavern. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards, building a strong relationship with his team, and a strong work ethic.

Standout pizza at San Jose’s The Last Round Tavern

Sandwich shop by day and pizza parlor by night, The Last Round Tavern in San Jose manages its split personality exceptionally well. Owner Caleb Orozco uses his homemade sourdough bread and thin-crust pizza dough as a base for identical ingredients, such as in-house braised brisket and pulled pork, to create two distinct and delicious menus that mix the traditional and the original.

Last Round: Building Community One Pizza at a Time

Downtown San Jose is home to many fantastic eateries, but few have captured the community’s heart like the Last Round Tavern. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, this local gem blends tradition with innovation. This milestone highlights the relentless effort and passion that Danny and Caleb Orozco brought to making Last Round a downtown staple known for its family-friendly environment and exceptional slow-braised meats and house-made sauces.

Last Round Tavern: Knockout Atmosphere and Flavor

Chaotic sounds ricocheted off The Last Round Tavern’s plasma flat screens. Some were elated that American boxer Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis knocked Ryan Garcia out with a military-grade haymaker to his liver. Others were slack jawed and rife with disappointment. But the ‘Tank’ wasn’t the only victor on Saturday, April 22nd.

Crispy Pizza: The Bay Area's Next Big Thing

The Bay Area's unquenchable thirst for regional American foods continues with the latest pizza trend: bar pies. Known by many monikers like pub or tavern-style pizza, this Chicago-born dish is defined by thin, crispy dough that's cut into squares - producing adorable, tiny edge pieces.

Former Boxer Opens Punchy Eatery, The Last Round

Caleb Orozco was 15 when he cracked a couple ribs. It was nothing major, the kind of injury any kid might sustain during their high school years. But there was a difference between Orozco and the other high school kids. “I had a fight coming up,” he says, “and if I could still throw punches, I was gonna get in there and do it.”

Genuine Heros and the Art of a Super Sandwich

The real star of Genuine Heros was the Roast Pork, with its thinly sliced, herb-crusted, juicy layers of pork cloaked in a bed of wilted spinach. This sandwich is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It also came with pork au jus that someone else may, or may not, have guzzled down.

San Jose Business District Embraces New Identity

Have you been to the new East Village in San Jose? Maybe you have without realizing it. That’s the new branding for the East Santa Clara Street Business Association, which stretches along one of the city’s main arteries just east of downtown.

East Village Logo Shows San Jose's Funky Vibe

Caleb Orozco, owner of the Last Round Tavern and vice chair of the business association, said he appreciated Mendoza’s collaborative process and questions that helped crystallize that the merchants stood for.