Restaurant owners Chris Kelling and Adam Altnether announce the opening of the team’s pizza concept, Pizza Champ, at 2657 Lyle Avenue in Maplewood, MO 63143, beginning today on Wednesday, January 26. Pizza Champ will open for initial service as takeout only for walk-up and drive-thru pick-up. Pizza Champ’s opening hours will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. After the first few weeks of opening, Pizza Champ will be open seven days a week and for lunch service, beginning at 11 a.m. Pizza Champ shares the building with an expanded additional location from Shared by Side Project Brewing, which will open at a later date. Seating will be available for guests when the four seasons patio opens later this winter.
What started as a pandemic response, takeout-only concept has now evolved into the second restaurant for the hospitality veterans who also own Elmwood and have previously worked at acclaimed restaurants such as Niche, The Restaurant at Meadowood, and more.
At just 800 square feet, the restaurant will initially be take-out only with pick-up through the restaurant’s window as well as the building’s drive-thru. Later this winter, seating will be available with a four seasons patio designed by ADJ Interiors. The patio will be open in the summer and enclosed and heated in the winter with comfortable banquette seating, plants, outdoor TVs and more for a modern, cozy outdoor experience.
With fine dining backgrounds, Pizza Champ allows Kelling, who runs front of the house, and Altnether as chef to focus on what they do best, making people feel at home and delivering exceptional hospitality to their guests. “Now that we’re in our new space, Pizza Champ will operate as a true neighborhood pizza joint. We’ll be opening for takeout only to start, but guests will soon be able to stick around and enjoy a beer with their pizza once our patio opens. In the meantime, we hope to be the pick for your family pizza night at home.”
Pizza Champ gained a following for Chef Altnether’s 18-inch pies cooked in a traditional brick-lined pizza oven with toppings from traditional to elevated takes on nostalgic specialty pizzas like the Taco Pizza and Buffalo Chicken Pizza. Red pies range from simple, yet perfectly executed pizzas like the Marinara with garlic, red pepper flake, red onion, parmesan and pecorino and Grilled Kale & Ricotta with grilled kale, house ricotta, preserved lemon, garlic and chili flake to the indulgent Elmwood Triple Pepperoni. White pies feature a béchamel base for pizzas like A Fun Guy with mushroom conserva, fontina and tomato. Pizza Champ will also have a menu of wings, salads, sides, and sandwiches. Salads include the Grilled Broccoli Caesar with fried shallots, breadcrumbs, and dill as well as the Pizza Champ Chopped Salad. Sandwiches include the Spicy Fried Chicken and Chicken Parm “sandos,” and wings are available in lemon pepper and buffalo (mild and hot). The full menu is available here. Soft serve ice cream will also be available when the patio opens.
While the team works to open Pizza Champ, Elmwood will not be in operation for 1-2 months. Elmwood plans to reopen in the spring with a new menu and format.