Downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park is about to get another excuse to stick around after work. Unc’s, a new Detroit-style pizzeria from the teams behind Mootz Pizzeria and brunch staple the Dime Store, is slated to open in July on Griswold Street in the middle of downtown. The spot is expected to sling square pies alongside burgers, chicken sandwiches and a full bar. With construction clearly visible from the street and a fresh Instagram account in place, the opening looks likely to follow soon after the final permits clear.
Details From The Owners
According to Deadline Detroit, the concept, billed as Unc’s Pizza, is expected to open in July with roughly 80 seats inside and about 40 on the patio. The space is next to steakhouse Prime + Proper, and Mootz’s Tony Sacco partnered with the Dime Store ownership after an earlier plan for a Jewish deli was shelved because deli-meat prices were too high to make the numbers work. Sacco told the outlet he is not worried that Unc’s will pull business away from Mootz.
Signs Of Life On Griswold
Local outlet Daily Detroit spotted a bright red neon “Unc’s” sign glowing in the window of the former United Savings Bank building on Griswold, and noted that the Instagram handle @uncspizza had already been created, although it had no posts at the time of that report. Between the sign and the ongoing facade work at the building, a July opening looks plausible even before any formal announcement lands.
Who’s Behind The Pie
Mootz brought New York-style pizza to downtown Detroit in 2019 and has since become a regular mention in local restaurant coverage, so that team brings the pizza chops to the new project. The Dime Store, an all-day downtown brunch spot that opened in 2014 inside the Chrysler House, adds hospitality experience and a built-in neighborhood following. Together, the partners say they want Unc’s to feel like a neighborhood pie shop that works for both daytime crowds and later visits.
Where It Fits In Detroit's Pizza Scene
Detroit-style pizza remains one of the city’s calling cards, and new independent operators continue to keep the category lively even as larger brands change hands. Local investors buying legacy pizza operations earlier this year helped keep national attention on those familiar square pies, and a Capitol Park address puts Unc’s within easy walking distance of offices, hotels and the Hudson’s redevelopment. That daytime and visitor foot traffic could be a key piece in supporting another downtown pizza operation.
For now, the owners appear focused on finishing the build-out and dialing in the menu. Anyone tracking the project will want to keep an eye on the @uncspizza account and local outlets for the official opening date and full menu details as they are reported.
