Katie’s Pizza has opened its first freestanding restaurant at the former Crestwood Plaza site in south St. Louis County. The nearly 7,000-square-foot location adds about 60 front- and back-of-house jobs and marks a key milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of Watson Road.
The St. Louis Business Journal reports that the Crestwood location is Katie’s Pizza’s first standalone building, employing roughly 60 staff members to operate the larger facility. At nearly 7,000 square feet, the restaurant is significantly larger than the brand’s previous mall-anchored and mixed-use locations.
Freestanding Buildout And Design
Located at 9635 Watson Road within the Dierbergs-backed Crestwood Crossing redevelopment, the new Katie’s Pizza building features a modern, open design. The restaurant includes a European-style open kitchen, a dedicated pasta room, and a large indoor-outdoor bar and patio designed to accommodate groups and weekend crowds. St. Louis Magazine highlighted the early February opening and noted the mid-century design elements that distinguish the building along Watson Road.
Jobs And Neighborhood Impact
The ribbon-cutting followed a visible hiring effort, with the company hosting January events and posting openings for servers, cooks, and bartenders at the Watson Road location. Job listings for the Crestwood restaurant appeared on Indeed prior to the opening, aligning with the staffing levels reported by Katie’s Pizza.
Menu And What To Expect
At the Crestwood location, Katie’s Pizza continues its signature offerings, including Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas, and shareable dishes designed for groups. The menu, consistent with the brand’s other St. Louis locations, is available through the local online ordering platform on Toast, which lists the restaurant’s items and details.
From Counter To Grocery Freezer
Katie Lee, chef-owner of Katie’s Pizza, has expanded the brand beyond its restaurants in recent years. Last year, the company’s frozen pizzas entered wider retail distribution, a development that owners say has supported new locations and staffing. The expansion, including placement in Target stores, has been covered by trade and local outlets, including Food Business News.
The Crestwood freestanding Katie’s Pizza provides a full-service option larger than a typical mall outparcel and now anchors the west side of the Crestwood Crossing development as additional restaurants and retail spaces open. The location offers a bigger dining room and patio alongside the brand’s familiar menu. The opening may serve as a reference point for other operators considering standalone locations in the suburb.
