DENVER – A foodservice partnership that includes Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced plans to open a fast-casual pizza concept in the Kansas City, Mo.-based suburb of Waldo, near an established Chipotle eatery. Pizzeria Locale, is based on a full-service pizzeria in Boulder, Colo., that was founded and still owned by restauranteurs Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson in 2011. Since then, the duo has partnered with Chipotle to open two locations in the Denver area that are owned by the group.

Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza, interactive service with customers and an attention to quality ingredients Chipotle has become known for, the third restaurant is expected to open this summer at 505 W. 75^th St. The location, in the trendy Kansas City suburb, was previously occupied by Pizza Manifesto.
“Kansas City has been a terrific market for Chipotle, and we are thrilled to join our sister restaurant and become a part of the city’s dynamic and growing dining scene,” says Stuckey.  Besides “We have steady and measured plans for growing Pizzeria Locale, allowing us to perfect the concept and service model, and concentrate on developing the people and staff to lead the new locations.”

Besides customized pizzas fired in high-temperature ovens, the menu will also include a variety of salads, meatballs, sliced prosciutto ham and beverages that include craft beers and wine that was custom blended by Stuckey, a Master Sommelier. 

According to a press release announcing the new restaurant, Pizzeria Locale isn’t Chipotle’s only non-burrito concept. ChopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen is another example of the chain’s diversity. “Chipotle currently operates nine ShopHouse restaurants in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles with additional restaurants opening in the coming months,” the release states.