Revered Austin Pizzeria Via 313 Is Plotting a Major Expansion Across the Country

Revered Austin pizzeria Via 313, known particularly for its Detroit-style pies, has major expansion plans in its near future. This is due to a new partnership with restaurant-focused investment company Savory. The goal is to open Via 313 locations throughout the country.

Via 313 co-owners and brothers Brandon and Zane Hunt explained that the collaboration with Savory made sense to them, via a press release. The company “has a deep understanding of our industry and a clear plan for where we need to go next,” says Brandon Hunt in the statement. “We are excited to expand this experience into more communities and states,” through the company, says Zane Hunt in the same release. The Hunts also hint at potential new pies inspired by other states and cities.

Expanding isn’t new for Via 313 co-owners and brothers Brandon and Zane Hunt, who oversee five locations of the pizzeria in Austin already, and had previously announced they were looking to open in Cedar Park and San Antonio.

Savory’s investment for Via 313 are coming from the company’s total $100 million fund, which is up from its originally announced $90 million this summer. The specific amount being pumped into Via isn’t being revealed.

The Hunts, who are from Detroit themselves, opened Via as a food truck on Rainey Street in 2011, and they have since expanded with a second truck and three restaurants throughout Austin. Trade publication Pizza Today named the business as the best pizzeria of the year earlier this summer. The Hunts also partnered with bar expert Travis Tober and opened favorite neighborhood bar Nickel City and Detroit-style food truck Delray Cafe on East 11th Street in 2017, which is to be followed by its Fort Worth location sometime this fall.

Savory has also invested in and operates other restaurants: three Utah-based restaurant chains, the Hawaiian Mo’ Bettahs, barbecue R&R BBQ, and drive-thru nonalcoholic drinks store Swig; as well as San Diego-based fried chicken chain the Crack Shack.

• Savory [Official]
• All Coverage of Via 313 [EATX]