At 56th and Xerxes in South Minneapolis,
Pizzeria Lola has dramatically revamped the space that once housed a convenience store.
The restaurant, which opened late last year, recently began offering lunch and added patio seating.
Even
though it's only been around for a matter of months, the authentic
Italian-style pizza place, which has a Korean twist (there's a kimchi
and Korean sausage pizza), has proven to be a
boon for the neighborhood, according to Jennifer Swanson, who works for
the Armatage Neighborhood Association.
Part of its success may
have to do with the fact that the restaurant's co-owners, Ann Kim and
Conrad Leifur, were engaged with the neighborhood group from the get-go,
she says.
Early on, the restaurateurs presented their plans
and pizza dough samples to neighbors, she says. "They seemed to feel
strongly about being a part of the neighborhood."
Also to their credit is the
restaurant's thoughtful design, which makes it an enjoyable hangout, she
says. St. Paul-based Loom Architecture's Ralph Nelson, who designed the
2,000-square-foot space, blends modern and vintage elements for a
unique ambiance.
Eye-catching metallic track lights radiate
overhead from the coppery oven. Gourmet
pizzas are fired in the wood-burning oven, while the copper material is
continued along the bar.
Shiny concrete floors, decorative
wood panels, antique items, cafeteria-style booths and tables, and a
photo booth, help make the place "warm and inviting," Swanson says.
The transformation is so pronounced that "you can't believe that you're in the same space," she says.
In
a small way, the neighborhood group has even contributed to the space's
upgrade by providing a grant to the building owner for a metal fence
that's meant to enclose the new patio.
Swanson says she's heard
plenty of positive feedback about the restaurant from nearby residents.
"They value businesses like this that are unique to the neighborhood and
are a part of the community," she says. "People really like having
places like that to walk to," and Pizzeria Lola is family-friendly as
well.
Source: Jennifer Swanson, coordinator, Armatage Neighborhood Association
Writer: Anna Pratt