Detroit's pizza lovers are in for a treat as popular pop-up Amelia Street Pizza Co. is set to open its brick-and-mortar location in Hazel Park, just over the spring equinox.
Founder Matt Arb's brainchild, known for its show-stopping "Pecorino Half Moon" pizza, boasts a sourdough crust topped with shaved cheese - a recipe that has garnered plenty of attention on social media. It was this online success that caught the eye of acclaimed chef James Rigato, who is not only backing Arb's venture as an investor and mentor but also bringing his own expertise to the table.
Arb describes their goal as simple: "to have the best pizza you've ever had, but for it to still feel like a neighborhood spot." To achieve this, the low-frills shop at 951 E. Nine Mile Rd. will focus on serving high-quality, classic pizzas without sacrificing an intimate atmosphere.
Rigato's involvement is more about supporting Arb's vision than overhauling his recipe. "I've wanted to open a pizza spot for a long time... but this is not a Mabel Gray project. This is Matt's business and Matt's pizza." By partnering with Rigato, Arb gains access to valuable guidance on the business side of things without compromising his artistic direction.
Arb's journey to establishing his pop-up began seven years ago as a refinancing banker at Rocket Mortgage, while he experimented with creating pizzas in his home kitchen. The venture gained momentum when it was showcased at Detroit's Dragonfly restaurant in 2025, leading to the current expansion into a permanent Hazel Park location.
The menu for Amelia Street Pizza Co. is straightforward and features an assortment of cheese, pepperoni, and a rotating special, complemented by cheese bread, cookies, and soft drinks.
Founder Matt Arb's brainchild, known for its show-stopping "Pecorino Half Moon" pizza, boasts a sourdough crust topped with shaved cheese - a recipe that has garnered plenty of attention on social media. It was this online success that caught the eye of acclaimed chef James Rigato, who is not only backing Arb's venture as an investor and mentor but also bringing his own expertise to the table.
Arb describes their goal as simple: "to have the best pizza you've ever had, but for it to still feel like a neighborhood spot." To achieve this, the low-frills shop at 951 E. Nine Mile Rd. will focus on serving high-quality, classic pizzas without sacrificing an intimate atmosphere.
Rigato's involvement is more about supporting Arb's vision than overhauling his recipe. "I've wanted to open a pizza spot for a long time... but this is not a Mabel Gray project. This is Matt's business and Matt's pizza." By partnering with Rigato, Arb gains access to valuable guidance on the business side of things without compromising his artistic direction.
Arb's journey to establishing his pop-up began seven years ago as a refinancing banker at Rocket Mortgage, while he experimented with creating pizzas in his home kitchen. The venture gained momentum when it was showcased at Detroit's Dragonfly restaurant in 2025, leading to the current expansion into a permanent Hazel Park location.
The menu for Amelia Street Pizza Co. is straightforward and features an assortment of cheese, pepperoni, and a rotating special, complemented by cheese bread, cookies, and soft drinks.
they're keeping it real with their low-frills vibe while still serving those show-stopping pies 
i mean, who wouldn't want to try that Pecorino Half Moon pizza? 
and it's awesome that Matt Arb is staying true to his vision and not changing up the recipe on purpose... plus having James Rigato on board as a mentor and investor is a win-win 
they're really prioritizing quality over quantity, which i think is so underrated in the pizza world 
... and now it's like the city is getting its own little slice of perfection with amelia street pizza co ! matt arb's pecorino half moon pizza sounds AMAZING and who wouldn't want to try a sourdough crust? anyway, i'm low-key stoked that james rigato's on board too - he's like the perfect blend of business brain & pizza passion 
Been following Amelia Street Pizza Co. on social media for ages now and their Pecorino Half Moon pizza is LIFE.CHANGING. I love that they're keeping things low-key at the new location too, no fancy frills just good ol' fashioned pizza goodness. Plus, having James Rigato on board as an investor and mentor must bring some serious credibility to the table 
, another pizza joint opening up in Detroit... like we didn't have enough already 
. And it's just gonna be some fancy-schmancy "neighborhood spot" with a sourdough crust 
. I mean, what sets this apart from all the other overpriced pizza places downtown? The fact that James Rigato is backing Matt Arb's business? Please... it's just gonna be more of the same overhyped, Instagram-worthy pizzas 
. And don't even get me started on the rotating special - just another way to increase prices and justify the "unique" experience 
! Amelia Street Pizza Co. sounds like the perfect combo of quality food & cozy vibes - who doesn't love a good neighborhood spot? 
The fact that they're keeping it low-frills and focusing on classic pizzas is giving me all the feels 
. And can we talk about James Rigato's involvement? Genius move by Matt Arb to bring in an investor/mentor with expertise in the business side of things 
#AmeliaStreetPizzaCo #DetroitFoodScene #PizzasForDays 
omg I'm so down for this! I've had Matt's pizzas at the pop-up and they're literally the best I've ever had! 
can't wait to try it out in Hazel Park 
still excited 4 the "Pecorino Half Moon" tho, thats some interesting combo 
and with james rigato on board, i know it's gonna be even better! the idea of having a neighborhood spot where you can get an awesome pizza without the fancy vibes sounds like my kinda thing 
matt arb's passion project is finally getting its well-deserved spot in the food scene and it's awesome to see james rigato on board as an investor & mentor, bringing his expertise to help arb achieve his dream of having a neighborhood spot that still knocks it outta the park 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good slice of pizza? The idea that they're staying true to the neighborhood vibe while still serving up those wow-worthy pies is really appealing to me. I've heard great things about Matt Arb's "Pecorino Half Moon" pizza and I'm definitely down to try it out when it opens 
. Fingers crossed it stays authentic to its roots while still delivering on that "best pizza ever" promise 
Matt Arb's Pecorino Half Moon pizza is literally everything and more 
! sounds like matt arb & james rigato have a solid plan to make it happen - low-frills vibes for a cozy neighborhood feel 