Buddy’s Pizza Is Contemplating a Downtown Detroit Location

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that iconic pizzeria Buddy’s Pizza is considering opening its first downtown location.

Free Press reporter Mark Kurlyandchik spoke with “multiple sources with knowledge of the deal”, who confirmed that Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert’s real estate company, Bedrock, was in discussions for a downtown location with the company credited with creating Detroit-style pizza.

The most likely potential location is the ground floor of the M@dison Building — specifically, in the space formerly occupied by Angelina Italian Bistro. That Italian restaurant closed in December after a rather public dispute between the restaurant owners and Gilbert’s real estate business, centered mostly around major rent increases that Bedrock foisted upon the restaurant. Bedrock would continue to be the landlord if Buddy’s moves in.

Nothing seems to be wholly locked down yet: Buddy’s confirmed that it’s looking at downtown spaces, but nothing is confirmed, and no opening timeline is in place.

It’s not the first expansion in the pipeline for Buddy’s: at the beginning of 2018, the small chain received an investment that is allowing the square pizza purveyor to expand “across the Midwest and beyond”. But specific locations haven’t been announced yet beyond a full service Buddy’s Pizza at the Detroit Zoo (although that was in the works before the investment).

• All Buddy’s Pizza coverage [ED]
• Sources: Buddy’s Pizza eyeing downtown Detroit location [Free Press]
• Detroit-Style Pizza Icon Buddy’s Plans Major Expansion to the ‘Midwest and Beyond’ [ED]