NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Gusto Pizza to open fourth Des Moines area store in November

Patt Johnson
The Des Moines Register

Gusto Pizza Co. is expanding its pie empire.

The locally grown, made-from-scratch pizza restaurant that opened its first location on Ingersoll Avenue near downtown Des Moines will add a fourth store this fall when it opens at Clocktower Square, 2900 University Ave., in West Des Moines.

Gusto Pizza Co. opened Monday in Johnston.

Owners Joe McConville, Tony Lemmo and Josh Holderness created Gusto after their Frank’s Pizza in the Drake University area closed in 2009. The first store opened in 2011 on Ingersoll, which was followed by far west West Des Moines in September 2013 and the Johnston Gusto in April 2015.

Holderness said the Clocktower location is expected to open at the end of November. It will be located in the building where Yanni’s Grill and Vineyard restaurant operated before closing in 2007. A couple of other restaurants have occupied the space.

Baceline Investments has been remodeling Clocktower since it bought the center in 2013. Baceline brought in Fresh Thyme Farmers Market grocery store and a handful of smaller retailers to the center.

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“It’s now got great demographics and great traffic,” Holderness said.

Gusto will have seating for about 90 people in about 3,300 square feet. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.