Ian’s Pizza owner Ian Gurfield signed a lease to open a second location of the well-known eatery this summer at 115 State Street, the former address of Peacemeal Vegetarian Restaurant.
Gurfield said the new restaurant is in the planning phases, and details are still being worked through, although many customers have expressed interest in a secondary location.
“I’ve really kind of taken my time considering anything of this nature. The right opportunity came up, and we’re going to take a gamble on it,” Gurfield said. “It’s a new adventure.”
Gurfield said Ian’s Pizza started as a project he worked on while attending the University of Massachusetts. After looking at 50 college towns, he settled on Madison for his future business.
According to Delivery Manager Kristin Richards, the new store will be very similar to the current pizzeria, but will also have differences. Ideas of a salad bar and a frozen yogurt menu are up in the air, she added.
“It’s not going to feel like Ian’s is becoming a chain,” Richards said. “I’m excited he’s finally expanding. He’s been wanting to do this for a while.”
Clayton Schere, who recently graduated from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago and was recruited by Gurfield to become the manager of the new State Street location, said the business should be open by July 1.
“I think the new store is going to be wonderful,” Schere said. “I’m really excited to get my feet wet and get into this situation.”
During the day, the store will focus on the “lunch crowd” of people who work on the Capitol Square, and besides the trademark pizza slices, Schere said plans for the new location include a salad bar, offering products from the local Dane County Farmer’s Market.
According to Schere, the State Street location will be much smaller than the current Frances Street business, with only about three tables, but the same amount of food will be offered.
“It’s a big difference in size from [the current location],” Schere said. “A big difference and so many similarities.”
The building has open-air windows, which employees can utilize during the warm weather, he added.
“It’s going to be a wonderful spring, fall and summer building,” Schere said.
University of Wisconsin sophomore Kristi Whalen said she always sees a line out the door for Ian’s Pizza on Frances Street during the weekends.
“It is an awesome idea to have an Ian’s on State Street because I hate waiting in line for an hour for pizza. I need my drunk food,” Whalen said, adding she may go to the new store more often since State Street is a convenient location.
Richards, who has worked at Ian’s Pizza for two-and-a-half years, said she is “thrilled” about the new store.
“I love Ian’s, and I love when other people love Ian’s,” Richards said, adding she “loves” when customers try a pizza slice for the first time and want to come back for another. “I’m excited there will be more opportunity to do that.”
