Event Details
LITHIA, Fla. –Smokin' Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom is continuing to scale with a new location in Lithia, Florida, opening at 5607 Circa Fishhawk Blvd. in the Alafia Commons Publix shopping center. Operated by co-owners Lauren and Korey Hoger, the wood-fired, fast casual pizzeria with a self-pour taproom wall brings a fresh, community centered dining experience to the Lithia area, with the opening date on August 6th, 2026.
The restaurant will have a mix of indoor and outdoor patio space. The location will create jobs for 25 team members and feature a self-pour tap wall with 20 taps, 2 for wine, 6 for mixed alcoholic drinks, and 12 for beer, many of which are from the local Tampa area brewers. This experience offers guests a customizable and interactive beverage experience alongside the brand’s wood-fired pizzas.
For Korey, the decision to become a franchisee with Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom is rooted in family. Korey previously worked in real estate and owned his own marketing company, while Lauren built her career in supply chain. The two met by chance when Lauren came in to buy out a lease at the dealership where Korey was working and welcomed their daughter into the world a year later. That sense of connection is what he and Lauren are now planning to bring to their Smokin’ Oak Pizza business.
“Lauren has been steadfast throughout the entire process; she’s worn many hats and shown her commitment to the business every step of the way.” Said Korey. “What drew us to Smokin’ Oak Pizza was how clean and smooth the whole system is. There are no frozen ingredients, no oversized menu to manage; it’s simple and done right. We also loved that like us, the founders are from the Midwest.”
Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom is known for its commitment to fresh ingredients and authentic preparation. Pizzas are cooked in a high-temperature, oak wood-fired oven in under two minutes, while dough and sauces are made in-house daily. The open kitchen design allows guests to watch the process unfold, reinforcing the brand’s transparency and craftsmanship.
“We are beyond excited to bring Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom to the Lithia community,” said Lauren Hoger, Co-Owner of Smokin' Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom Lithia. “We’ve lived in the area for more than eight years and we’ve found ourselves driving as far as 45 minutes just to get a great meal. We’ve spent the last year and a half waiting for the right space to become available, and we’ve also spent that time learning what the community loves to eat. We know Lithia is going to love our process, our people, and our pizza.”
Lauren and Korey are looking to opening additional Smokin’ Oak Pizza locations, with plans to expand in the Wesley Chapel area and near Bradenton and Sarasota.
With its combination of quality-driven food, interactive elements like the self-pour tap wall featuring 20 rotating craft and domestic beers on tap, and a strong emphasis on community, the new Lithia location is positioned to become a local gathering place for families, friends, and neighbors alike.
For more information, please visit https://smokinoakpizza.com/lithia-fl.html
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About Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom
Founded in 2009 and franchising since 2017, Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom is a fast-casual franchise concept that serves authentic wood-fired pizza. Guests can customize their own pizza by choosing from over 35 fresh toppings or by ordering one of the brands 12 Specialty Pizzas, which include favorites like the Buffalo Chicken Pizza and the Smokey Dokey. Also available are a great selection of starters, salads, and desserts. Most locations have an interactive, self-pour tap wall that guests can pour their own alcoholic beverage with the touch of an RFID wristband. All pizzas are baked to perfection in an oak wood-fired oven using only the freshest ingredients. In fact, the food is so fresh, there are no freezers on site, and the wood-fired oven is the only cooking utensil used in their restaurants.