Black-owned pizzeria opens in Optimist Park

A new pizza spot has come to town, and it’s Black-owned. 

In Optimist Park at 510 E. 15th St., Bird Pizzeria opened last Wednesday, serving artisanal East Coast-inspired pizza.

The husband-wife duo of Kerrel and Nkem Thompson had their first date over pizza and got inspired to open the shop as they reflected during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Name: Bird Pizzeria was named after Kerrel’s love of birds.

“He can name like all of the birds in North America, so it’s kind of like always been a thing with us,” Nkem says.

Menu: For now, Bird Pizzeria is offering kale salad, pepperoni, white and build-your-own in 14-inch pies. Nkem says offerings will gradually expand to include bigger pizzas, individual slices, sandwiches and more.

Prices: currently $10-$23.

How to: Order online on Bird Pizzeria’s website or walk up. Outdoor seating is available.

Hours: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

My thoughts: Bird Pizzeria is super busy. If you want a pizza, don’t hesitate. I got there at 5:30 p.m. and snatched the last pizza of the night before they sold out for the evening. By the way, the pizza was delicious. The ingredients were fresh, super tasty and worth the one-hour wait.