Pi Pizzeria co-owner Chris Sommers is branching out on his own to open ‘Zza, a counter-service pizza spot at 282 N. Skinker Blvd. As reported by St. Louis Magazine, the 1,600-square-foot space is slated to open early next year.
Sommers said the menu will consist of personal-size pizzas, salads and a combo plate called a pizzata: a pizza with the center cut out and replaced with a salad. Customers can choose from set topping combinations and salads, or create their own.
Don’t expect the pizza to be a rehash of Pi’s offerings. Sommers developed his own recipes for its new concept. “The dough has higher gluten content, has more chew to it,” he said. “It’s not as thin and crispy as Pi’s [thin crust pizza], but not as deep as its deep dish.”
“This is something I’ve wanted to do for years,” Sommers said. “I finally found the right oven, and there’s better access to better quality food for the speed, price and quality that didn’t necessarily exist a few years ago.” He said he’s already in talks regarding additional locations.
This article appears in November 2016.