BIZNOTES: In Pizza We Crust (updated), Lotus on the Beach

Two food biznotes tonight:

(Photo sent by Joel)

IN PIZZA WE CRUST: Thanks to everyone who sent photos of the signage that’s popped up in the windows at 3207 California SW, where The Swinery recently closed. It’ll become home to the wood-fired pizza of In Pizza We Crust, which you can currently find in the U District, a family business whose backstory is here. We have messages out to find out more about their West Seattle plan.

ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: Just heard back from In Pizza We Crust’s Stephanie Tran. She tells us:

We have acquired the location, where we will settle our new business venture. We are a family-run business with our three sons and started out as a food truck doing wood-fired pizza with a semi-permanent location in Bellevue for 6 years. We have also done many offsite events like concerts, festivals and many private parties, just to name a few. Our goal is to continue our food truck business, as we already have a summer filled calendar this year. Our food truck business is on pause for now until we are able to open the shop on California Ave. We have some permits that will take up to 60 days once plans are submitted so our open date is still tbd, but hoping for early June if all goes well! The biggest change to the ex-Swinery location will be changing the BBQ pit area in the courtyard to a dome brick oven. The second largest change will be to transform the front room into a casual dining area where folks can dine year round. The courtyard area will also have seating in a covered outdoor space where folks can watch all the pizza action. We couldn’t be more exited to be part of West Seattle’s warm community. Fun fact, I went to West Seattle HS my senior year!

LOTUS ON THE BEACH: We reported last week that this new Asian restaurant was close to opening at 2768 Alki SW, formerly home to (speaking of pizza) Pegasus. Now LOTB has announced its plan to “soft open” on Sunday, April 14. Same ownership as nearby Alki Phở & Bar, planning to offer “a hybrid of traditional and Asian fusion inspired dishes.”

Wendell April 3, 2024 (7:21 pm)

Another pizza joint. Who wudda thunk?

WSB April 3, 2024 (8:10 pm)

Remember the ranks thinned – Spiro’s, Credo, Pegasus closed.
- Huh? April 5, 2024 (7:44 am)
  
  Umm… Mioposto, Pizzeria 22, Sopranos, Domino’s, MOTO, West of Chicago, MOD, Pagliacci, Supreme. That’s like roughly within a mile of where that location is. Not to mention places like Met Market and PCC that also offers pizza. Good luck to them.
  - Josh April 6, 2024 (7:38 am)
    
    Pizza has excellent margins and is varied enough in style that it’s silly to view Chicago, Detroit, New York, Sourdough, Neapolitan, and quick bake as the same kind of food. It would be like being annoyed that there are a bunch of ramen, Chinese, Italian, and Thai places within proximity of each other because they are all noodle shops.
LyndaB April 3, 2024 (10:00 pm)

It’ll be a great for trivia night question. Name all the pizza places in WS. Past and present.
- WS4Life April 4, 2024 (8:32 am)
  
  Shakeys, Pizza Pete, Banana Joes.
  - WS4Life April 4, 2024 (10:13 am)
    
    I mean Joe Bananas! 😣
- MacGyver April 4, 2024 (8:46 pm)
  
  We even lost Papa John’s, Pizza Hut and Papa Murphy’s.
  
  And Zaw too.
- Will April 6, 2024 (1:53 pm)
  
  I asked that question at good society trivia once. How many pizza places are on California avenue!

Patrick April 3, 2024 (7:44 pm)

Just what West Seattle needed—more pizza.

Gay Gabrilska April 3, 2024 (11:05 pm)

Welcome to the neighborhood, family Tran. Your pizza looks and sounds amazing. Excited about the variety of sauces/bases. Can’t wait to try them all. I love all of the variety of pizza places in west Seattle.

Lynda B April 4, 2024 (8:03 am)

I just looked up “pizza near me” on Google maps and there are places I forgot about. It would be a great idea to have a pizza pie contest “Best Pie of the West” to raise money for the food banks.
- miws April 4, 2024 (10:08 am)
  
  https://westseattleblog.com/2008/11/wsb-extra-the-1st-west-seattle-pizza-taste-test/

Rb April 3, 2024 (11:36 pm)

Welcome to West Seattle even if I am tired of all restaurants being on california ave. It would be nice if they spread around.

Anne April 4, 2024 (7:57 am)

Not all are on California Ave -Lotus is on Alki-but it makes sense to be on an arterial-California Ave, Alki Ave, 35th Ave SW where there is more traffic & more likely to be seen.