Pizza Champ (2657 Lyle Avenue, Maplewood, MO) owner, Chris Kelling, on Saturday announced on Facebook that Pizza Champ is closing at the end of 2024. The same day Side Project Brewing owner, Cory King, announced in a press release that he planned to open a new pizza spot at the location called Side Project Pizza:
ST. LOUIS (Dec. 28, 2024) — Side Project Brewing (7458 Manchester Rd, Maplewood, MO 63143), the world-renowned St. Louis brewery with three locations in Maplewood (Side Project Brewery, Side Project Cellar, and The Side Project Patio), announces plans to open “Side Project Pizza” in early 2025, following the closure of Pizza Champ at the end of the year.
The reimagined pizza concept is tentatively set to open in early 2025. Currently, The Patio, a Side Project concept, shares its space with Pizza Champ, offering guests a casual, welcoming four-season patio to enjoy its diverse lineup of craft beers alongside Pizza Champ’s popular New York-style pizza and to-go offerings. With this transition, Side Project will assume responsibility for the kitchen and food operations, with Executive Chef Adam Altnether leading menu development for the reimagined pizza concept. Pizza Champ will close its doors on December 31, 2024, making way for Side Project Brewing to debut its new concept, Side Project Pizza, with a new menu in the first quarter of 2025.
“We are excited to grow the Side Project family of brands, particularly within the Maplewood neighborhood,” said Side Project Brewing owner Cory King. “Chris Kelling has done an incredible job with Pizza Champ, and we are honored to carry forward his dedication to quality and creativity in this new chapter. The Patio has allowed us to connect with a broader audience, introducing more people to our lagers and IPAs beyond our primarily barrel-aged offerings. Our food program at Side Project Brewery has been incredibly successful in transforming our space into a true community hub, welcoming families and guests who appreciate more than just our beer.
“Expanding with another food-focused space across the street from our brewery and near our cellar presents an exciting opportunity to integrate exceptional food and beer experiences further into the heart of Maplewood. We also see potential for synergy and crossover between the concepts in the future. We look forward to sharing more details of the food concept in the coming weeks ahead of opening,” King said.
With three locations—Side Project Brewery, The Cellar, and The Patio—this transition represents a culinary expansion for the brewery and their goal of operating integrated beer and food concepts in the future.
This transition marks a new chapter for Side Project and the Maplewood community. More details about the new food concept and menu will be shared in the coming months as Side Project prepares to unveil its vision for Side Project Pizza in early 2025.
For more information, visit Side Project Brewing’s website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.