The first fast-casual pizzeria to open in Tucson is the first to leave.
With no notice, Pizza Studio on Saturday quietly closed both of its Tucson restaurants β at 6501 E. Grant Road and at 1301 N. Park Ave. in the Next Level student housing complex across from the University of Arizona. The UA area restaurant had been open since August 2014 β beating local fast-casual pizzeria Pionic by two days; the Grant Road location was open just 14 months.
Former UA football player Trace Biskin, whose father was one of the founders of the California Pizza Studio chain, opened both Tucson locations. According to employees at the Grant Road restaurant, he has not been involved for at least six months.
An email sent to Biskin at the restaurant's email was returned with a note:Β "Please know that Trace Biskin no longer works for TPS Tucson LLC." It then referred questions to two men whose phone number had an Alaska area code.
No one returned a message left at the number and neither men returned email inquiries.
Pizza Studio opened in Tucson in August 2014, ahead of Pionic at Β 2643 N. Campbell Ave.Β Since then, Tucson has seen Pieology open on Park Avenue across from the UA and yards away from the Pizza Studio location; and Fired Pie open downtown at 350 E. Congress St.
Fired Pie, which got its start in Phoenix, opened a second Tucson location last December at 2645 E. Speedway.Β
According to news reports, a number of Pizza Studio locations in California have closed in recent months.Β
