Buddy’s Pizza Lands at the Detroit Zoo in 2018

The original Detroit-style pizza slinger, Buddy’s Pizza, is plotting an expansion to the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. The zoo announced today that the metro Detroit restaurant chain will expand to 4,436-square-foot restaurant in the animal park with views of the Rackham Fountain.

The restaurant will seat roughly 155 people with 80 seats inside and an additional 75 seats on the patio and rooftop deck. Founded in 1946, Buddy’s is known for serving square pizza with Sicilian-style crust, brick cheese, and sauce on top. The restaurant will feature a variety of the company’s pies including a Detroit Zoo pizza with roasted tomatoes, basil, pine nuts, tomato sauce, and cheese.

The Detroit-style pizzeria will be joining fellow Detroit food icon American Coney Island, which opened a location at the zoo in 2011. Buddy’s currently operates 12 metro Detroit restaurants and is in the process of expanding to its first location in Ann Arbor.

Courtesy of the Detroit Zoo

That 6,600-square-foot restaurant is slated to debut by early fall on Ann Arbor-Saline Road in the Pittsfield Place development. The Ann Arbor out is in the process of hiring 100 workers for its opening team, according to a release. Stay tuned for more updates on Buddy’s expansions.

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