Homeslice Pizza in the 2900 block of Main Avenue in Durango is moving less than a block north to reopen at the old Bird’s location, which will offer more parking and a larger restaurant.
The new location is expected to open Tuesday.
The move comes after Bird’s, another restaurant owned by Peak Food & Beverage, closed in April as a result of a tight labor market and unstable economic conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Peak acquired Homeslice in 2021. CEO Kris Oyler said the larger location on north Main Avenue provides Homeslice with more accessibility.
He said Bird’s was a more expensive restaurant to run because of the high cost of chicken, making it difficult to control costs.
“I realized what a good model and business Homeslice is, and from a business standpoint, it made a lot of sense,” Oyler said.
The original north Main Avenue Homeslice was built around a food truck. Its location presented issues for expanding. With the move, Oyler said there will be more space for seating, not to mention a full bar.
The new location will also provide more parking for employees and customers. The pizzeria is moving a short distance, from 2915 Main Ave. to 2957 Main Ave.
“We literally have five times the parking,” Oyler said. “That’s probably one of the biggest assets is how much more parking that we’ll be able to pick up by moving two doors down.”
Oyler plans to keep the drive-up window from Bird’s for pickup orders, something he said will make the process more efficient.
“Someone who orders a pizza online or a take-and-bake pizza can drive right up to the window,” he said. “That’s going to make it very convenient for folks.”
Oyler plans to lease the old Homeslice location and welcomes other food establishments to move into the spot.
He emphasized that Homeslice is not changing other than having a larger operating space.
“I think the employees are very happy with the move, knowing how much more space we have and the level of business that we can do with this much more parking,” he said. “It’s really attractive to them.”
Because of the increased kitchen size, the north Main location will provide some of the food preparation for all three Homeslice restaurants, including the locations on East College Drive and in Three Springs. Oyler also plans to keep the Cream Bean Berry truck parked outside, saying it is a good opportunity to collaborate with another business.
The ice cream truck will offer services spring through the fall, he said.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
