Rail commuters, office workers and students will be able to grab a slice of Detroit pizza when a new bar comes to Carrington Street in Nottingham. Two concepts have been merged to create an industrial-style bar and US themed pizza takeaway.
Called Industry, the bar is the idea of two local operators who are behind some of the area's popular food and drink spots. Work is well underway at the former Sainsbury's Local, which closed more than a year ago. Pizza will be served both in the bar and from a grab-and-go counter, called Detroit, which will have a separate entrance.
The style of pizza is deep pan, with a thick crunchy crust. It originated in the US city, the car capital of the world, more than 75 years ago when it was baked in forged-steel pans borrowed from local automobile plants.
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Industry's owners Alex Fuge and Kalpesh Patel already operate nearby bars Hops and Cured as well as the Parlour in West Bridgford. Alex said the unit will look bigger than shoppers remember as they've incorporated the former stockroom, which took up a third of the building.
Alex knows a thing or two about pizza as he also runs Strezza in Cotgrave. It will be a different concept but fellow Strezza business partner Richard Miller is helping to devise Detroit's menu.
Alex said: "The food for Industry will be fried chicken in a basket, loaded potato tots, all that kind of stuff that's trendy at the moment. I think we'll start with five or six different toppings on the pizzas and increase with demand.
"The Industry side will be industrial so we have ripped down the suspended ceilings from when Sainsbury's had the unit. It's very raw, so concrete, metal and industrial lighting." Detroit, on the other hand, will be decorated with colourful graffiti. With a sizeable courtyard fronting Canal Street, there's also potential for alfresco seating.
Located close to Nottingham Railway Station, the HMRC offices and new student accommodation, Alex said the growth around Carrington Street presented a huge opportunity and the success of Hops and Cured allowed them to expand.
"We saw a gap in the market. I think we have been very lucky with where we've placed our business. A lot of other independents in Nottingham or even corporates have not tapped into that train station area and I think we've been very fortunate. Hops is a standalone business on its own on that street and Cured and now the Sainsbury's site, we've got the best locations around the train station.
"The train station isn't going to move and unless there's train strikes, which have hurt us, hopefully apart from that we're onto a winner with it."
The bar is set to open towards the end of April and in the meantime regular teasers are being posted on social media to whet the appetite.
Competition is rife elsewhere in Nottingham with most pizza parlours serving thin crust Neapolitan style pizzas. Fellow independents Pizzamissu, Slice 'n' Brew, Oscar & Rosies, Suede, Solo Grano and Happy Dough Lucky all put their individual spin on the Italian staple.
Chains include Pizza Express, Zizzi and Wildwood - all in a row in King Street. Pizza Punks has recently opened in Fletcher Gate and soon Pizza Pilgrims will be opening just around the corner in Carlton Street.
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