Darius Aram didn’t expect opening a pizza shop in Dripping Springs to connect him so deeply to the community.
But somewhere along the way, Slice Street has become more than a restaurant.
Since opening Slice Street nearly three years ago, Aram has watched his pizzas become part of celebrations, sporting events, and everyday memories, while the people of Dripping Springs have become part of his own story as a business owner.
One moment that stands out is his time with the local baseball team. What began as a relationship between a pizza shop and a school athletic program became something more personal when Aram had the opportunity to meet the players and even play alongside them at a practice.
For Aram, it was a reminder that community involvement isn’t always about making a donation or putting a business name on a banner. Sometimes, it is simply about showing up and getting to know the people you’re supporting.
Aram says the relationships began with parents who approached him looking for a way to work together rather than simply asking for money.
“Booster parents came in saying, ‘I want to find a way where we can help each other,’” Aram shares. “Immediately I said, ‘All right, cool. Let’s talk.’”
Through sponsorships, discounted food, and other support, Aram has built relationships with several DSHS athletic programs, helping booster clubs stretch their fundraising dollars.
“We’re so excited to be heading into our second year partnering with Slice Street Pizza,” says DSHS baseball booster club member Marc Madeley. “Darius has been incredibly helpful, and we’re proud to provide our fans with some of the best pizza in town!”
Tari Hill of the basketball booster club echoes the sentiment: “Darius offers discounted pricing that allows us to allocate more funding toward student-athlete scholarships and game-day experiences.”
For Aram, that support is personal. As a former student-athlete, he remembers what it felt like to be on the other side of that encouragement. But his desire to give back is also a response to the way Dripping Springs welcomed him.
When Slice Street was still new, Aram experienced the challenges that come with building a business from the ground up. There were busy nights and long waits, but what he remembers most isn’t the frustration—it is the patience.
Customers who barely knew him encouraged him to keep going. They recognized that he was new, that he was trying, and that running a small business isn’t always easy.
“These are people who didn’t know me. I didn’t know them,” Aram says. “And yet they treated me with kindness and grace.”
That kindness left an impression. Aram began looking for ways to return it—not only through school athletics, but by bringing pizzas to local businesses, surprising employees, and finding small opportunities to make someone’s day better.
The Dripping Springs Community Library is among the organizations that has experienced that generosity.
“Darius has been a great supporter of the library and a wonderful small business partner here in Dripping Springs,” says Mindy Laird, library president. “He’s always looking for creative ways to support our efforts, from helping with Summer Reading initiatives to supporting library campaign events throughout the year. We really appreciate his community-minded spirit and the way he uses his platform to promote others.”
For Aram, those gestures are part of what makes Dripping Springs special.
He describes the idea as a friendly competition of generosity: One person does something kind; the other tries to top it, and the cycle continues.
“How about we fight to outdo each other with kindness?” Aram says.
How do you show a community you care? For Aram, the answer is simple: Show up.
Show up for the baseball team. Show up for a local employee finishing a long shift. Show up with a pizza when someone needs a little unexpected joy.
Somewhere along the way, Slice Street stopped being just a place where people go for pizza. It became one of the ways Aram says, “We’re neighbors.”
SliceStreetPizza.com | @slicestreetpizza
“Darius offers discounted pricing that allows us to allocate more funding toward student-athlete scholarships and game-day experiences.” - Tari Hill
“We really appreciate his community-minded spirit and the way he uses his platform to promote others.” - Mindy Laird