Students could be surprised to see the owner of Ian’s Pizza, which became famous for its unique toppings, selling a more traditional style of the classic Italian food at a new restaurant in the future.
The Alcohol License Review Committee approved an alcohol license Wednesday for a possible new pizza restaurant at 558 State St.
Although Ian Gurfield, owner of Ian’s Pizza, would include alcohol on his new restaurant’s menu, he said the emphasis would still be on the food.
Gurfield added the main differences between Ian’s and the new restaurant would be the introduction of sourdough crust and cooking with a wood burning oven.
“We’re looking to provide a very different experience than Ian’s, but still obviously focused on really great pizza,” he said.
According to Gurfield, the restaurant would be named “S2” after the first letter of his wife’s and maternal grandmother’s first names.
Gurfield said opening a new restaurant would be a “passion project” for him.
“When I started Ian’s Pizza, I was in my early twenties and I’m now in my mid-thirties,” he said. “I’m looking for a challenge, still within the pizza realm, but to do something a little bit different with a wood burning oven.”
Also at Wednesday night’s meeting, the ALRC discussed security and staff training improvements at the club Segredo, located at 624 University Ave., that were made in response to city officials expressing concern with violence in the area.
Last May, three people were shot and injured outside of Segredo.
ALRC members said the club had to improve employee training and reevaluate its employee handbook, partially in response to an incident where Segredo’s staff found a loaded handgun, but did not immediately inform police.
Since then, Segredo owner Michael Hierl said the club has made changes to its staffing, interior decorations and booking focus.
“We have had 600 plus crowds for the past few weekends…but we have had incidents that you can count on two or three fingers,” Hierl said.
However, because the ALRC did not see a finalized copy of the revised handbook at the meeting, the committee will not take further action until its October meeting.
