Varuni Napoli, the Neapolitan pizzeria founded by chef Luca Varuni, has signed a lease to open its first downtown Atlanta outpost in the Entertainment District at Centennial Yards, the developer announced Tuesday. The deal drops one of the city's better-known pizza names into the growing cluster of restaurants and venues beside State Farm Arena and Mercedes‑Benz Stadium.
In a press release via Business Wire, as reported by Eagle‑Tribune, CIM Group and Centennial Yards Company said Varuni Napoli will join the Entertainment District and will bring in the brand’s signature 900-degree wood-fired ovens at the new site. The release framed the lease as part of Centennial Yards' plan to mix local operators with national names to serve game-day and concert crowds. The statement did not include a firm opening date for the downtown location.
Centennial Yards Keeps Filling Out Its Entertainment District
Centennial Yards is a roughly $5 billion, 50-acre mixed-use redevelopment intended to remake the old “Gulch” into a walkable, stadium-adjacent neighborhood, according to CIM Group. The developer has been rolling out a steady stream of restaurant and venue leases, including a recent Shake Shack deal, to populate the Entertainment District and feed event traffic - a strategy the team says will keep downtown active before and after large events. The Shake Shack lease and other tenant announcements have been documented in developer releases and trade coverage.
Varuni’s Local Roots And What It Brings
Varuni Napoli is already a familiar name in Atlanta, with a full restaurant in the Morningside area and a grab-and-go presence in Krog Street Market. Chef Luca Varuni earned local notice for bringing authentic Neapolitan technique to the city. The brand emphasizes imported ingredients and high-temperature ovens to achieve the blistered, airy crust that defines true Neapolitan pizza, according to Varuni Napoli and local coverage of the restaurant. Those existing locations give the brand experience handling both neighborhood traffic and quick service for event crowds.
For downtown diners, the lease is another sign that Centennial Yards is steadily filling its roster of restaurants and venues as construction advances and more tenants are announced. Developers say additional leasing news will follow as the Entertainment District builds toward a fuller activation, and local reporting outlines the larger plan for stitching hotels, residences, and venues into the heart of downtown. AJC coverage provides further context on the scope and goals of the project.
