According to an Arizona liquor license application, Grandioso is planned for 1227 Grand Ave in Phoenix, where restaurateur and pizzaiolo Justin Piazza is targeting a summer opening.
While the team is aiming for July 1, Piazza said July 15 is currently the more likely date.
Grandioso will center around pizza and drinks while embracing a broader neighborhood-bar identity shaped by Grand Avenue’s arts scene.
“Grandioso is gonna be like a neighborhood-type dive bar with very good, top-of-the-line pizza as its main focal point. We’re gonna be a cool place to come, have a slice, have a drink, and hang out.”
Justin Piazza, known for La Piazza Al Forno and previous downtown Phoenix ventures, said Grandioso will feature four pizza styles. The concept also represents a continuation of the pizza he has long been known for in Arizona.
“We’re gonna have a New York style pizza, like your traditional New York style. We’re gonna have a Roman taglio style, which is a light, airy, and crunchy square. And we’re gonna do a traditional Detroit style.”
His Detroit-style offering will carry a more personal touch, which Piazza described as “a spongy pan pizza.” Grandioso will also serve tavern-style pizza, a thin, crispy, crackery bar-style pie.
Beyond pizza, Grandioso is expected to offer a full bar program, baked wings, appetizers and panino-style sandwiches.
Grand Avenue stood out as the right fit after Piazza returned to Phoenix and reconnected with the area. “I like the people, I like the vibe, and I like what’s going on. So I thought Grand Avenue was great,” he told What Now Phoenix.
The restaurant will operate with a fast-casual, bar-oriented model rather than traditional table service. The space itself is intended as a hangout destination with murals, entertainment and late-night energy.
“We have murals. I have some of the best artists in the state doing murals on the outside and on the inside. We also have a pool table and a jukebox.”
For Piazza, Grandioso reflects both his pizza background and his creative identity.
“We’re gonna have that same quality, but now this place is gonna have a cool vibe, and it’s gonna be more of a reflection of who I am as a person and my love for the arts.”
To stay updated on Grandioso’s progress, visit the concept’s Instagram page.
