A popular California pizzeria is moving forward with plans to add a second, larger Houston-area location. Los Angeles’ Pizzana is expected to break ground soon on its newest restaurant in Memorial City.
Construction for the estimated $450,000 project is expected to begin in mid-September and be completed by mid-January.
The Houston Chronicle first reported Pizzana’s announced expansion in April. At the time, the restaurant’s Greenside location would open in the fall. Per the permit, it’s clear that’s not happening.
Pizzana was one of the first tenants revealed at the new Greenside development.
“Houston has really embraced Pizzana since our opening in spring 2024, and that support made it an easy decision to keep investing in the city. With our new Greenside location in the Memorial City area, we wanted to create a special space that feels open, inviting, and rooted in the joy of being together,” co-founder Candace Nelson previously said in a statement.
“From our open kitchen where you can watch us stretch pizzas, to the expansive patio that opens onto a beautiful lawn, guests can slow down and stay awhile with pizza and a cold spritz! We’re so proud to make this our fourth location in Texas.”
Pizzana—a name that combines “pizza” and “Napoletana” as a nod to its “modern twist to Neapolitan tradition”—opened in Los’ Angeles Brentwood neighborhood in 2017. Since then, the celebrity-backed, Michelin-recognized restaurant has grown to eight locations across Southern California and Texas.
The chain’s arrival in Houston two years ago came at a time when the city was in the middle of a pizza moment, adding to its lineup of Neapolitan, New York-style, Chicago tavern pies and Detroit-style pies. Now, Pizzana’s growth is prompting a similar sense of déjà vu, with recent openings from Angie’s Pizza, Galaxy Pizza, and another Gypsy Poet near Rice Village.