Fayetteville microbrewery takes Pierro's old spot on Ramsey Street, and other food openings
For more than two decades, an unassuming spot nestled in a Fayetteville shopping center has served the same pizza recipe.
The space at 5780 Ramsey St. was home for about 20 years to Pierro’s, an Italian eatery that still operates a downtown location. In 2021, it shut down due to pandemic-related labor issues.
One of the owners sold the restaurant to his ex-wife, Brittany Fair, who turned it into Litty’s Pizza, an homage to her nickname, “Litty Britty.” She added burgers and wings to the menu but kept the pizza recipe the same.
Now, Fayetteville-founded microbrewery Heckler Brewing Company, which has operated in the same shopping center since early 2020, is taking over the space — and bringing with it a whole new vibe.
Brewery owner Danny Miller said that he plans to renovate the 4,000-square-foot space, which still has the hallmark traits of an early 2000s Italian eatery, like arched doorways and coffered ceilings, to turn it into a brewery and restaurant that matches the edgy and rugged vibe of the Heckler brand. Think Edison bulb string lights, eclectic art and empty barley bags, leftover from grain delivered to brew the company's signature brews, used as decor.
Pine Hill Bistro at Heckler Brewing Company, as he’s calling the new venture, will have a focus on beer. It will mainly be a taproom, but like its predecessor, will serve burgers, chicken wings and pizza. However, it won’t be the same pizza recipe that’s graced those ovens for decades, he said.
"We'll have new recipes and new ingredients," he said.
Just a few hundred feet away is Heckler's former 1,400-square-foot taproom and production space, which will only be used for brewing moving forward, Miller said.
“When we’re busy, we’re too busy,” he said. “It’s just not enough room.”
Now, with a dining area that seats about 115 and outdoor seating for about 30, Miller said, he can host more events and grow his clientele. With affordable meal options in the $10 range, he hopes to attract students at nearby Methodist University, he said.
A soft opening at the restaurant is tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Open: Jane Cakes
Jane Cakes, a bakery with a focus on specialty and custom cakes, opened May 20 at 107 ½ Gillespie St., formerly On Top Bail-Bonding and Consulting. Owner Jane Smith said she was a home baker for about four years before opening the downtown bake shop. Cakes sold by the slice in flavors like cookie butter, strawberry crunch, blue velvet and lemon blueberry for $9.
Business hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, noon to 7 p.m. Thursday and noon to 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday-Tuesday.
Open: Sharetea
Sharetea, an international bubble tea brand founded in 1992 in Taipei, Taiwan, opened June 24 in Tallywood Shopping Center at 116 Raeford Road, Suite 230.
To-go alcohol sales are booming: What's next for Fayetteville's Downtown Social District?
The menu offers variations of bubble tea, a drink made from brewed tea, cream, sugar and chewy tapioca pearls. Served iced or blended, customers can choose from additions like pudding, jellies and ice cream. Its tea leaves are shipped from Taiwan to its 450 stores across 18 countries, according to the Sharetea website.
Business hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Open: Poki Bowl
Poki Bowl opened July 24 at 2727 Freedom Parkway Drive in Freedom Town Center. The fast-casual restaurant has a focus on Hawaiian poke, a dish of seasoned, diced raw fish with accouterments. In this case, poke bowls can be customized with options for bases, proteins, veggies and toppings.
Business hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Open: Queen Bee Boba Tea
Queen Bee Boba Tea opened June 1 at 1800 Skibo Road, a former location of the chain sandwich restaurant Quiznos. The shop offers a selection of teas served with optional add-ins like cream, jelly and tapioca pearls often referred to as boba. Coffee and smoothies are also sold. Drinks start at $4.75.
Business hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Open: Grits food truck
Grits, a Hoke County-based food truck, made its official debut in the area food scene on May 21 at Bethany Crossroads, 7064 Maxwell Road in Stedman. Owner and operator Darryl Cole, 47, is a Raeford native and Fayetteville State alumn.
Related: Restaurants are coming to Dogwood State Bank and Fayetteville Pie Company's former spot
He said the truck offers many of the same dishes that his catering company of six years, Grits Southern, came to be known for, like fried chicken and catfish, smothered chicken and pork chops, yams and macaroni and cheese.
The truck’s specialty drink, peach lemonade, is served over ice or as a slushy.
Locations and hours vary, visit facebook.com/gritssoutherncateringcompany or call 910-430-1432 for details.
Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville microbrewery takes Pierro's old spot on Ramsey Street
