New Pizza Parlor Set to Start Slinging Slices in March

Look out, Linden Hills: you're about to get a slice of heaven, courtesy of Pizzeria Lola's Anne Kim.

The owner of Armatage's most famous pizza establishment—a favorite of local and national food critics—let slip that she aims to open her new restaurant, Hello Pizza, on the site of the former Franklin Street Bakery at 44th and France in March. 

Kim, who also lives in Edina, spoke before an Edina City Council wine and beer license hearing on Tuesday evening. Kim said the restaurant will have 32 seats in total, with a focus on by-the-slice sales during lunch and family-oriented traffic in the evenings.

"We expect people picking up whole pies to go or coming in for a quick bite to eat before a movie or something," Kim said. "Our pizzas are available by the slice, but they're also available by whole pies. If a family did decide to stay and dine and have a whole pizza, they could do that and have a glass of wine or beer as well."

Kim likened the dining experience at Hello Pizza to Twin Cities franchise Punch Pizza, referring to it as "counter service."

"You come up, you order, the ticket goes in and then basically we'll have bussers and runners that will go and bring the slices to whoever ordered them," she said. "Even though it's not full service, there will be someone running it to them—they won't be picking it up physically themselves and taking it to the table."

Mayor Jim Hovland joked Kim's popular Pizzeria Lola is a "real asset to Edina"—it's technically located just over the border, in Minneapolis—and asked her if they'll be offering "valet pizza."

"You know, the funny thing is Pizzeria Lola is actually in the Minneapolis municipality, across the street is Edina," Kim replied. "And with Hello Pizza, we're actually on the Edina side and across the street is Minneapolis."

Council members unanimously approved the restaurant's wine and beer license, but have concerns regarding the lack of parking in the surrounding area. 

Kim said her new neighbors don't seem to have any qualms regarding on-sale wine and beer at the restaurant, but did note they are "very protective of the parking area."

"In the end, I think they've been really happy about what we've brought to the community and the neighborhood," Kim said. "They've been really excited that they can actually walk and have a meal during a snowstorm. There's not much to choose from in terms of dining in that neighborhood, so I think we've become a real big asset to the community."

City planners said the parking situation would be similar to when Franklin Street Bakery occupied the storefront.

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