Perry’s Pizza, formerly a beloved vendor at Erie’s Flagship City Food Hall, is making its return with plans to open at 1001 W. Sixth St. The new location is expected to welcome customers by the summer, with an anticipated opening in late May or early June, according to owner Elliot Smith.
Smith, who co-founded Perry’s Pizza with his wife Bianca Bruni, shared that they are excited to bring the pizzeria back to downtown Erie. The couple is receiving a $38,000 loan from the city to assist with renovations, with support from the Gannon University Small Business Development Center.
While rumors circulated that Virgil’s Plate Pizzeria, previously operated by Gary Fleming, would be reopening in the same space, those claims were partially true. Fleming still owns the building but is not involved in the new pizzeria. Instead, it will be Perry’s Pizza, a favorite among locals during its previous stint at the Food Hall.
Smith and Bruni, both in their mid-30s, have been eager to find a new location since leaving their previous partnership with the Erie Downtown Development Corporation, which owned the Food Hall. “We were working for them, and they didn’t want to be in the bar business anymore, so we decided to leave,” Smith explained.
After a lengthy search, they’ve settled into the new space and are committed to offering the same menu that made their pizza popular at the Food Hall. “We’re doing our same recipe as before,” Smith said. “Everything is baked in a big brick oven, using Italian flour, cheese, and fresh ingredients.”
While they won’t change the pizza recipe, Smith said they plan to keep their menu fresh and exciting, introducing mocktails and craft sodas in place of alcohol due to the absence of a liquor license. The new business will offer both takeout and limited dine-in service, with a seating capacity of 15.
“Hopefully enough people turn up,” Smith said, optimistic that their loyal following will return and attract new fans. He expressed gratitude for the support they’ve received, including from Fleming, who reached out to the couple two years ago when they were transitioning out of the Food Hall. “He’s been really cool,” Smith said of Fleming’s continued involvement.
As the couple prepares to reopen their doors, they are eager to reconnect with old customers while expanding their reach in downtown Erie.
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