Olive Branch pizza fans will not have to make the drive to Southaven for a 28-inch pie much longer. Italia Pizza Cafe, a family-owned DeSoto County favorite, is opening a second location in Olive Branch, with a grand opening scheduled for Friday, July 24, at 10 a.m. The new spot is set to lean heavily on online ordering and pickup while keeping the Southaven menu that helped build its loyal following.
As reported by WhatNow, the Olive Branch restaurant is headed for 9170 Hacks Cross Road, Unit 500, with the opening announced in a social media post. The outlet notes that the new location is planning opening-day specials and catering options designed with nearby businesses in mind.
Big Mama Is Back
Italia Pizza Cafe's website proudly calls the restaurant the "Home of the 28" Big Mama," a nod to the oversized pie that helped put the Southaven shop on the map, according to Italia Pizza Cafe. That 28-inch pie, along with the pizzeria's classic Italian lineup, is set to be a centerpiece of the new Olive Branch menu.
The Big Mama Challenge
According to WhatNow, the Olive Branch location will also bring along the "Big Mama Challenge." The rules are simple, if not exactly easy: two people get 30 minutes to take down a roughly 10-pound, 28-inch pizza. Finish it in time, and the pair walks away with $100 to split. Fall short, and you are paying for the pie, and your photo might end up on the restaurant's self-described "wall of shame," so choose your partner carefully.
The Olive Branch Chamber's business directory lists Italia Pizza Cafe at the Hacks Cross Road address, confirming the unit number for the new storefront, according to Olive Branch Chamber. The pizzeria's website also features an order-online portal, a sign that customers will be able to place pickup orders in advance, according to Italia Pizza Cafe.
Italia Pizza Cafe plans to officially open its Olive Branch doors on Friday, July 24, at 10 a.m., with early lines and opening-day specials likely. Check the restaurant's social channels before you head out in case of any last-minute changes.
