At an age when many people are still trying to figure out what they want to be when they “grow up,” Lacey Gaines already knew. At age 20, Gaines purchased her own business. She had always wanted to run her own business, so when an opportunity came to buy The Pizza Place, Gaines took it.

Gaines worked at The Pizza Place for a year and a half before she purchased it. She had started as a waitress, then worked her way up to assistant manager. Then the owner and manager decided that he would have to close down or sell it. Gaines took advantage of the opportunity.

She has now owned the business for around two years. She currently has three employees, one of them being her dad, who works for her full-time.

“My parents help me,” Gaines said, “but it is definitely my business.”

Gaines has always been interested in the food service industry. While growing up in Bartlesville, she dreamed of running her own bakery. She took a culinary class at Tri County Technology Center her senior year to study bakery and pastry.

“I had always wanted to own my own business, but I kind of thought it would be a bakery,” Gaines said. “I never dreamed I would get into pizza.” She took a slight career detour with her first job. She worked at the movie theater before moving on to working at The Pizza Place.

Gaines enjoys the challenge of running her own pizza place.

“I enjoy working with people,” Gaines said. “That has been the best part.”

She has faced challenges along the way, however.

“It was a risk, buying my own business … One thing I have learned about owning my own restaurant is that I have to be here the whole time,” she said. “I can’t trust other people to run it.”

She puts a lot of hard work into the business and credits it with teaching her other skills, such as the money management that comes with business ownership.

“I work every day,” Gaines said. “I can’t get away. I am here from open to close.”

Gaines isn’t all business and no play, however. In her free time, she likes to go out with her friends.

The business has also taken her to new places and given her new experiences. This week, she will be attending a pizza convention in Las Vegas.

All of Gaines’ hard work and dedication paid off. Under Gaines, The Pizza Place has been so successful that she currently has three requests for franchises. Gaines is looking into the specifics of it, but she plans to move forward with the franchising agreements. She also would like to expand on her own.

“I want to open at least one more somewhere,” she said.

She has found being a business owner a positive experience.

“I would encourage other women to open their own business,” she said. “They need to be prepared to work a lot of hours, though. It is not easy, but it is worth it.”

“I like that I am so young and that I can do this,” Gaines said.