The chef behind O4W Pizza and Nina + Rafi is planning to open a third pizzeria, this time in Virginia-Highland. The new restaurant, "Pizza By the Slice," is planned for 1021 Virginia Avenue in a space out of which seafood eatery Goin Coastal operated for eight years before closing this past November. Before Goin Coastal, the space, which dates from about 1910, was home to FIGO pasta. The new pizzeria will open adjacent to Paolo’s Gelato and will occupy 1,600 square feet of the roughly 2,700 square foot space.
ToNeTo Atlanta was first tipped off to Spina's plans in Virginia Highland in early March, but protracted lease negotiations delayed the finalization of everything until now.
Spina, a New Jersey native, became known in the Atlanta restaurant scene for his original concept O4W Pizza, originally in the Old Fourth Ward, and now located in downtown Duluth. His most recent venture, Nina + Rafi, a pizzeria in partnership with Hampton & Hudson's Billy Streck, debuted earlier this year along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail and has quickly become a neighborhood hotspot.
As with his Jersey-style “grandma pie” in Duluth, Spina’s Detroit-style pizzas have become equally popular at the Beltline Eastside Trail restaurant.
Pizza By The Slice brings pizza back to Virginia-Highland (missing since Everybody’s Pizza closed nearly a decade ago), and will do so at the namesake intersection of Virginia and (North) Highland Avenues. Spina's focus at his new eatery, as at his others, will be on Sicilian-style square pizza.
“Virginia - Highland as a neighborhood is known for walkability and great restaurants . With Pizza By The Slice, we are bringing the highest quality pizza in the city to a laid - back everyday kind of environment. It's perfect for a family dinner, the little league team party or late night after the bar. It's going to be a neighborhood institution,” explains Ted Bradford, Associate Developer with Gene Kansas.
To honor the neighborhood, the VA-HI building recently unveiled the “Welcome to the Neighborhood” mural conceptualized by Atlanta design studio PROPER in collaboration with Gene Kansas | Commercial Real Estate as developer.
When reached by phone for comment on the expected opening of the new restaurant Spina replied, "no comment." Sources close to the restaurant indicate that the an opening in early 2020 is likely given the extensive work that must be completed within the space ahead of the pizza shop's buildout.
Are you excited for the opening of Pizza By the Slice in Virginia Highland? What is your favorite type of pizza? Do you still miss Everybody's Pizza?
Please share your thoughts below.
4 comments:
I do miss Everybody's Pizza - both the Highlands and Emory locations.
I went to Mo's on Briarcliff not too long ago and it was still pretty good.
It is way past time this city got better by the slice options. The only one I can think of that consistently serves it throughout the day is Fellini's.
SOOOO EXCITED. This is exactly what VAHI needs!!!
Everybody's Pizza = Good Times! Loved it!
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