The Local Pizzaiolo Heading to Antico's Backyard

Pizza chain to open first location on Westside

The Local Pizzaiolo, a new fast casual pizza restaurant that I announced last month would launch in Atlanta, has inked a fourth lease.

The owners of The Local Pizzaiolo have leased the 2,700 square foot former Bellwoods Social House on the Westside. The restaurant, located near the intersection of Howell Mill and Marietta Street, has been a few different concepts over the years with Bellwoods having opened in 2014 and closed late last month.  

In addition to the single level restaurant space and patio, The Local Pizzaiolo will also share a 1,000 square foot rooftop deck with neighbor 5 Seasons Brewery & Restaurant.

The fact that this lease, unlike the other three previously signed in metro Atlanta by the pizza group, is of a second generation restaurant space, should enable the group to open sooner.  Originally the the restaurant at Toco Hills shopping center was going to be the group's first, but now the Westside restaurant could open first.  

Although Allison Hill, CEO of The Local Pizzaiolo, was unavailable to provide an update on the expected openings, prior conversations lead me to believe that the Westside location will open late this summer followed by Toco Hills a short time later.  All timetables are subject to change as The Local Pizzaiolo, like so many other businesses in Atlanta, often find themselves at the mercy of those issuing permits and performing inspections.  

Hill, who spent over six years in various marketing roles with The Coca-Cola Company, will undoubtedly hope that her friends and former colleagues from Coca-Cola's nearby North Avenue headquarters patronize the restaurant.  

Last month, Hill spoke exclusively to ToNeTo Atlanta about The Local Pizzaiolo which she envisions as a step above fast casual: "fast premium," serving sit-down quality pizza in a quick-serve setting. The restaurant will feature ordering from kiosks or from the counter, and will also feature a small marketplace where customers can purchase ingredients such as olive oil, tomatoes and truffle honey.  

The Local Pizzaiolo will feature 11 inch Neapolitan pizza pies and assorted appetizers, salads, craft cocktails, wine, beer and desserts.  A source familiar with the group's plans indicated it could easily be described as "quick serve Antico," referencing the popular Neapolitan pizzeria that got its start near Atlanta's Home Park neighborhood. 

The Westside Local Pizzaiolo puts it basically one mile from the original Antico Pizza, located on Hemphill Avenue near Georgia Tech.  

Late this year or early next year, Local Pizzaiolo will open its third location at Modera Sandy Springs on Roswell Road.  A fourth location is planned for next summer at the upcoming Fuqua Development project, Madison Yards, on Memorial Drive in Reynoldstown.   

Steve Josovitz of The Shumacher Group represented both The Local Pizzaiolo and Bellwoods in this transaction and the pizza group's three other Atlanta leases.  Irving Jacobson, also of The Shumacher Group, represented The Local Pizzaiolo in both this and the other three Atlanta area leases.  

Are you excited for another pizza option on the Westside? What is your favorite pizza in Atlanta?  What type of food would you like to see open on the Westside next?

Please share your thoughts below.