After being open less than two years, the owners of A Pizza Story (7278 Manchester Road) are selling the business to two partners planning to open the second location of a successful Chesterfield restaurant.
One of the partners, Jim Quicksilver, was at the Maplewood City Council meeting Tuesday night to request a liquor license. His partner, Don Schmitt, opened Smitty’s Food & Drink, in 1987, at 14874 Clayton Road, in Chesterfield. He said the Maplewood restaurant will be the same concept.
He said the philosophy is simple: “great food at a great price.” He said Schmitt has been very consistent. The menu includes appetizers, salads, soups every day; all kinds of sandwiches, entrees, fish, pasta, steaks, specials every night, ribs. “They make, I think, the best hamburger in town. It’s really just a tremendous menu,” he said.
One difference is that the original restaurant serves thin crust pizza; the Maplewood location will use the wood burning pizza oven built for A Pizza Story, and the purchase includes the Pizza Story dough formula, which co-owner Muhammad Alhawagri spent months perfecting.
“It was a passion for him. He was very proud of that,” Quicksilver said Wednesday. “We’d be crazy not to continue with the success they’ve had with wood burning pizza.”
Quicksilver is a former financial adviser who became “disenchanted with Wall Street” and was looking for something else to do with his life. He said he had been bugging Schmitt for years to open a second location and he finally relented; Schmitt said he wanted the second spot to be in Maplewood.
“It’s been wonderful working with Karen (Scheidt, city clerk) and Rachelle (L’Ecuyer, community development director). They’ve made it a lot easier to get though the mountain of paperwork,” Quicksilver said. He said the new restaurant will take about six weeks to open.
Update: Employees at A Pizza Story Wednesday afternoon didn’t know when it might be closing. Co-owner Sherif Nasser hasn’t responded immediately to a request for comment.
See also: Restaurant owner will cook pizza in oven like his grandmother used, A Pizza Story set to open Thursday for dinner, lunch soon
Boooo! Bummed about this loss. Make way for more flat screens, deep-fry, and meat meat meat.
Anyone booing pizza story leaving please stop, ” bar food” is not how id classify there menu either, more like comfort food at a great price, I promise your getting a gem and if you don’t think so you don’t know good food! Once you go there for the first time you’ll be happy pizza storys gone
Since you’ve been quick to respond to many comments already, I’d just like to point out that people have a right to be disappointed/sad if a restaurant they enjoy is closing. My wife and I have enjoyed a Pizza Story a number of times and have always found the meal to be excellent.
Plus, that’s someone’s business that is closing — and while we don’t know the financials of the situation; nonetheless I know enough that it was the product of what I suspect is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears by the people who started the restaurant and the people who worked there.
The food industry is tough — a lot of restaurants come and go. I want to see local places succeed — and I hope Smitty’s succeeds.
You certainly can be excited about Smitty’s and I appreciate your enthusiasm. And while I don’t know anything about it, I will certainly try it.
But, you don’t have to add further insult to injury by being negative when A Pizza Story is already closing up shop and then dismissing the people who have enjoyed it.
Amen to this. I know Sharif and Muhammad poured so much time and passion into A Pizza Story, so I feel for them greatly. I will really miss this restaurant.
Doug, any updates on when it’s closing or what happened?
No update on when Pizza Story is closing. Jim Quicksilver told me one of the partners has moved out of town. Like many others, I can attest to Muhammad and Sharif’s passion for Pizza Story. That’s all I know for now.
What a shame! A Pizza Story is a Diamond in the Ruff. Way to DeClass Maplewood. Just another Trashy sports bar. And the original dough recipe will not be used….just saying. Bummer!!
Whoaaa hold on there buddy. You honestly just upset me with your ignorance. I’ve been going to the first smittys since I was a child, just because it’s a bar too does not mean it’s trashy or even a “sports bar” it’s a wonderful place for good people and amazing comfort food at great price. If you cant relax n find something you love at smittys, the problem is not the bar or the menu, the problem would have to be you
Smitty’s sounds amazing. I can’t wait to try it. I’m getting tired of quail eggs and 10 dollar cocktails.
Amen!
IF These futuristic owners are truly looking forward they will include Gluten Free Pizza. PI has that corner and it is very lucrative and growing!,,.
The best vegan pizza in town! Sooooo sad to see them go.
If you haven’t tried it yet, Pizzeoli in Soulard also makes a GREAT vegan pizza!
WOW! Great news for this Smitty’s regular! Congratulations to you both. It is sure to be a success! I agree that Smitty’s makes the worlds best hamburger and so much more! Christine LaFaver
Nooooooooooo! This is SO disappointing. A Pizza Story quickly became one of our favorite restaurants! I didn’t find it pricey at all, especially for the quality, which was fantastic. I’m also not thrilled that a place from the suburbs is coming in to take it over.
You will love Smitty’s they have not only the best burger but their fried chicken is amazing. I’ve NEVER had a bad meal there.
I promise you’ll soon be very happy with smittys taking over. I’m currently living in New York but I had been going there since I was kid with my mother and it’s definitely one of the places I miss most from back home. The pizzas amazing, t ravs are fantastic burgers are wonderful, and there prices really can’t be beat, never once have i had a bad meal there. If they still have the cold pack cheddar burger on the menu at the new place GET IT!!!! i might actually die from the cravings I have now just thinking about it
At least they are keeping the pizza oven. Smart move. Lots of very positive Yelp reviews. This place will do great in M’wood with families, especially those of us who are burned out on the Bottleworks and their lackluster food menu. I hope the Pizza Story guys didn’t lose all their money on the deal. They had a good thing, but man was it pricey.
That’s sad. i think they had a really good concept- however it was a little pricey. the new owners menu sounds a little busy. sounds like more bar food.
The food at the current Smitty’s location is phenomenal! Maplewood is getting a gem!
When is Pizza Story closing?
I’m working on that, Ethan. The employees in there today didn’t know a thing.
I would just like to say that 40 South News is my only source for local news. Excellent!
Would also love to know this. We have to get back before they close!
Boo! I love Pizza Story! Sad to see it go.