Another pizza restaurant to open in Stadium Village

Wally Elpaz , an owner with 30 years experience in the pizza business, is wrapping up construction on the new Village Pizza , which is scheduled to open Aug. 1 in the space previously occupied by Espresso Royale.
Stadium Village is already home to several pizza restaurants including Campus Pizza , Papa John’s , Leaning Tower of Pizza and Domino's Pizza, but Elpaz said he thinks Village Pizza will be unique.
Unlike other pizza shops, he said Village Pizza will sell not only a whole pie but also pizza-by-the-slice.
Crews have been operating on the 600 square-foot store on Washington Avenue since March.
Elpaz, said while he is aware of the many stores that are going out of business, he is optimistic about the future of Village Pizza.
“We have the best pizza in Minnesota,” he said. “We serve the customers with quality and the quality services will keep the restaurant moving on.”
Elpaz said he brought the pizza shop to Stadium Village to give the students another option to satisfy their hunger.
He said this will be the only location in Minneapolis.
Village Pizza will feature a diverse menu, which will include pizza, Italian sandwiches and gyros.
Elpaz said customers will not have to wait as long for their food as they do at other pizzerias.
Village Pizza will allow students to grab and go with quality food at a lower price, he said.
Jim Rosvold , Stadium Village Commercial Association spokesman said many businesses “come and go” but what keeps the Stadium Village commerce alive is “the students and the staff of the University of Minnesota.”
Some who work at Stadium Village businesses expressed concerns about whether the new restaurant will survive.
TCF Bank employee, Nick Karlstad said he thinks it is a gamble opening a restaurant at this time of economic crisis.
Karlstad said he will not go to the new restaurant because he brings his own food from home.
“I don’t want to spend money on food,” said Karlstad.
Others said they will support small businesses.
University of Minnesota scientist, Liz Narten said she is interested in trying something new.
“I will definitely eat at the new place and keep going back if they have good stuff,” she said.
Village Pizza will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.