By: Deborah Johnson Wood
When Brick Road Pizza opens its doors, it could be Grand Rapids’ first pizza shop to specialize in soy-based “meat” products for vegans and vegetarians. The idea for the shop came to owners Jody and Cindy Talbert, who quit eating red meat 25 years ago and have found “veggie” pizzas lacking pizzazz.
“You can get all kinds of veggie toppings at pizza places all over the city, but you can’t get any turkey or soy based meats that make it feel like you’re eating something substantial,” says Cindy Talbert. “Sometimes we’d like something with a little more flavor.”
The pizzeria will open in late June at 1017-1019 Wealthy Street SE after completion of a $100,000 renovation. The menu features turkey- and soy-based meat alternatives. Soy cheese, and sauces and crusts with no dairy or animal products will be on the menu, as well as traditional toppings such as “regular” pepperoni and ham.
The signature pizza is a Chicago style pizza with a traditional 2-inch-thick crust. The menu also features gourmet pizzas, pasta, salads and appetizers.
The building renovation includes adding a kitchen and an 80-seat dining room. The Talberts’ son, Nicholas, will manage the kitchen. Daughter Sarah Piper, will manage the wait staff. Piper, an artist, plans to paint a jazz-inspired mural on a dining room wall.
“My husband wanted to have a family-oriented business,” Talbert says. “We chose this neighborhood because it’s a very progressive. College students are moving in and putting a whole lot of energy into the area. We absolutely love that.”
Source: Cindy Talbert, Brick Road Pizza; Jackson Van Dyke, Bear Manor Properties
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Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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