Anthony Badamo, the chef behind Badamo's Pizza, is getting ready to stretch his dough empire beyond pies with a specialty sandwich shop and compact Italian market in Dormont. The new venture is set to open right next door to his packed Potomac Avenue pizzeria, with a tight lineup of sandwiches and a curated mix of Italian pantry staples aimed at daytime foot traffic and retail shoppers that the largely evening-focused pizza shop does not fully catch.
As reported by the Pittsburgh Business Times, the sister concept will sit adjacent to the existing Dormont Badamo's and pair specialty sandwiches with a small, carefully selected Italian grocery section. Reporter Jake Dabkowski notes that the project is designed as a complement to the current pizzeria, not a replacement, giving Badamo another way to feed the neighborhood without touching the original formula.
Menu and in-store grocery
Badamo's has already been quietly dipping a toe into retail. Its online ordering system includes a "Grocery" section that features items like olive oil, canned tomatoes and other Italian pantry basics. On ToastTab, those grocery products appear right alongside the sandwich offerings for the Potomac Avenue location, a sign that the team has been gauging how much interest there is in take-home goods. The new storefront would give Badamo's room to expand that lineup and run sandwich service separately from the high-volume pizza line.
Why Dormont?
Badamo moved his operation to Dormont in 2023, landing on a walkable stretch of Potomac Avenue that is thick with independent businesses and loyal regulars. That relocation turned the pizzeria into a neighborhood magnet and was covered by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which chronicled the buzz surrounding the move. A smaller-format sandwich shop plus Italian grocery fits that same corridor, playing to steady foot traffic, lunchtime crowds and local shoppers who prefer to stay close to home.
Timing and next steps
The Pittsburgh Business Times report did not offer a specific opening date for the new concept. Badamo's website and online ordering pages still list pizza, sandwiches and grocery items at the existing 1509 Potomac Avenue address, without mentioning a separate, neighboring storefront. For now, the clearest signs of progress will likely be physical: neighbors can watch for building permits, fresh signage or activity in the adjacent storefront windows that would signal a build-out is underway.
What this means locally
For Dormont residents, the expansion could mean an easy new go-to for lunch and a convenient stop to grab Italian staples like pantry goods without a longer trek to a bigger market. Industry watchers have noted that restaurants are increasingly adding modest retail sections to diversify revenue and better serve regulars, a trend outlined in Deli Business's Spring 2026 issue. As permits, signs, or other public clues emerge, expect more clarity on when Badamo's latest idea will officially join the Dormont food lineup.
