Young's Paving Bobcat driver Junior Cox, left, and Brandon Brady edge the parking area to be paved at Fiamma Pizza Restaurant which opens in June on North Market Street. The business is located at 405 N. Market St.- Project: Fiamma Pizza Co.
- Location: 405 N. Market St., Chattanooga
- Owner: Fiamma Pizza Co., LLC, Jim Richards, local restaurateur
- Investment: $500,000
- Size: 3,600 square feet, 100-person seating capacity
- Contractor: Winesett-Hill Constructors, Inc., Chattanooga
- Architect: Kaufman and Associates, Chattanooga
History: Fiamma Pizza Co. is opening in a building formerly occupied by a sign shop in the Hill City neighborhood in North Chattanooga. Jim Richards, owner of the pizza restaurant, is co-owner of a handful of Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchise locations in Chattanooga. Richards believes Fiamma will fill a pizza gap in the North Chattanooga food scene, which previously lost its only specialty pizza shop when Hill City Pizza went out of business.
- Scope: Fiamma will employ 40 workers when it opens. Richards said the restaurant has around 35 employees now, and is looking to hire more. Fiamma's building features new HVAC, plumbing and window work and will have a bar seating area and a family dining room. Fiamma has a patio seating area with a half-sized Bocce ball court. The inside will feature copper-covered tables and black steel chairs. Fiamma will serve beer and soda, 10 different pizzas and a variety of sandwiches and salads. The restaurant is outfitted with an imported wood-fired pizza oven, and will employ 300-year-old, Italian-style baking methods using oak firewood.
- Schedule: Fiamma Pizza Co. is scheduled to open by the end of May.
Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.