Just a few months after along Lee Highway, a new pizza shop is now set to take its place.
Old Dominion Pizza Company is now planning to open up in Upper Crust鈥檚 old space at 4514 Lee Highway in the Lee Heights shopping center, owner John Rodas told ARLnow.
Rodas, who also helps run in Clarendon, says he鈥檚 still sorting out the menu for the new restaurant, but hopes Old Dominion will become a 鈥済ood, local, neighborhood pizza place.鈥�
He says he鈥檇 long enjoyed getting pizza at Upper Crust, but thought the restaurant鈥檚 management was a bit lacking. He even considered what he might do differently with the space.
鈥淚 remember saying, 鈥業f this spot ever comes open, I would love to put a nice neighborhood pizza place here,鈥� Rodas said.
Accordingly, when Rodas saw ARLnow鈥檚 story on the store鈥檚 closure this July, he jumped at the chance to lease the space.
鈥淚鈥檇 always wanted to do something in the neighborhood, but it wasn鈥檛 something I already had plans in the works for,鈥� Rodas said. 鈥淏ut when I saw that it was closed, I drove right over there.鈥�
He says he signed a lease for the space a few months ago, working in tandem with his chef at Spirits of 鈥�76, Charles Smith, who is helping to design Old Dominion鈥檚 menu and will have an ownership stake in the pizzeria.
Rodas adds that the restaurant will deliver, and he plans to offer wine and beer in the space, though he expects the lengthy permit application process means the restaurant might not have it available as soon as it opens. As for that opening date, he鈥檚 currently hoping to start welcoming customers sometime in December.
Rodas is well aware that it might seem a bit strange to open up a new pizzeria in the same space as one that just failed, but he鈥檚 hoping that he鈥檒l be able to bring a bit of what has made his Clarendon bar a success over to this new venture.
鈥淲e鈥檙e lucky to have great employees there, who take pride in the place and we have great customer service there,鈥� Rodas said. 鈥淵ou know the guys who own the place and who work there鈥� and we want to bring that over to Old Dominion.鈥�
Photo via聽
