New Pizzeria Opening In Downtown Detroit Tuesday

DETROIT — A new Detroit-style pizzeria is opening Tuesday in downtown Detroit.

Unc's Pizza will be housed inside the historic Detroit and Northern building at 1133 Griswold Street in downtown Detroit's Capitol Park district.

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The restaurant is named after co-owner Larry Kahn's Uncle Paul, who was simply known as "Unc."

A decorated World War II veteran and longtime Detroit Edison employee, Kahn described "Unc" as a man who embodied the warmth, generosity and neighborly spirit that inspired the concept.

"We wanted to create the neighborhood pizza place we all wish still existed," Kahn said. "The kind of place where everyone feels welcome, families stay awhile and another chair is pulled up to the table."

Kahn partnered with Ann-Marie Murphy and Jeff Alexander, the ownership team behind Dime Store and Tony Sacco of Mootz Pizzeria + Bar, to open the new pizzeria.

"There's incredible pride in Detroit-style pizza and demand for a place that really celebrates it," Sacco said. "We took our time getting it right while having some fun."

Executive Chefs Andrew Shedden and Josh Taylor will lead the kitchen. Their combined experience includes stints at acclaimed Chicago restaurants Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! and Moto, as well as Detroit favorites Olin, Marrow in the Market, Dime Store and Supergeil.

The team will carefully craft the menu with perfected dough recipes and high-quality ingredients. The menu will also feature Detroit-style pizza sides, such as mozzarella sticks, chicken wings and tenders.

The 7,300-square-foot pizzeria was designed by Colin Tury of Tury Design, with architectural design by Isabelle Leysens of Plan to Build. It can seat up to 80 guests in its dining room and another 50 on the outdoor patio.

"Hospitality isn't just a service; it's a way of looking out for one another," Murphy said. "This place is dedicated to the people who taught us to be generous with our time, care for our communities and make everyone feel like they belong."

Unc's Pizza will be open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight.