DiCarlo’s and their post-bake cheese are making their way to Westerville for the pizzeria’s third area location.
DiCarlo’s Pizza is slated to open in February or March 2022 at 20 S. State St.
This particular location will be a franchise, but run identically to the family-owned units in Hilliard and Italian Village says Owner David DiCarlo.
“Westerville is a lovely little historical town with very few pizza shops,” DiCarlo says. “The location was also perfect for parking and came with a license to sell beer and wine.”
The menu will be the same streamlined offerings of DiCarlo’s other area locations – pepperoni rolls and pizza sold in two-cut increments – but also include beer and wine. The pizza joint has earned notoriety for its Ohio Valley and/or Steubenville style offering. The crust and sauce spend time in the oven, but not the toppings, of which there are really only two: cheese and pepperoni. And the only acceptable cheese is provolone. Period.
The Westerville location will model Hilliard and Italian Village’s move to takeout and delivery-only operations, but will feature some outdoor seating on a newly-built patio in front of the shop. With double the square footage needed to run the operation, Westerville franchisees Sarah and Michael Carlson will also open a small venue, The Ria Room, next to the shop.
The venue will be utilized for special events and ghost kitchen concepts, but DiCarlo also hopes to reserve one day a month for the Big Night, a reservation-only, homemade Italian dinner featuring DiCarlo family recipes.
DiCarlo looks forward to welcoming the Carlsons into the pizza family.
“The franchisees also live in Westerville. Michael has a strong background in the food business and both share the same passion/vision for DiCarlo’s Pizza as I do,” DiCarlo says. “They will be a great asset to the company.”
DiCarlo’s other area locations include Hilliard, 4142 Main St. and the more recently-opened Italian Village, 91 E. Fifth Ave.
DiCarlo’s expected hours are 4 – 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 1 – 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Additional Reading: Want to know what CU’s own Aficionadough Jim Ellison thought of DiCarlo’s? Explore his pizza odyssey here.
