Restaurant news

Pizza Studio opens second Tucson location on Grant

Less than five months after opening Tucson’s first fast-casual pizzeria, California-based Pizza Studio is expanding.

The second Tucson Pizza Studio restaurant opened last weekend at 6501 E. Grant Road in a new retail plaza that also will be home to Jersey Mike’s Subs and Chipotle. Jersey Mike’s is expected to open Dec. 17; Chipotle will open in February.

Former University of Arizona football player Trace Biskin owns both Pizza Studio restaurants; He opened the first one at 1031 N. Park Ave. in the Next Level student housing high-rise complex in early August, two days ahead of Tucson-born fast-casual eatery Pionic Pizza at 2643 N. Campbell Ave.

Biskin hosted “Free Pizza for A Cause” Saturday to introduce himself to the area. The $1,000-plus in proceeds benefited Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Southern Arizona.

Pizza Studio is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Since Pizza Studio and Pionic opened in early August, two other fast-casual pizza chains have made inroads into Tucson including Phoenix-based Fired Pie, which opened last week on East Congress Street downtown.

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Jackson Tavern opening Monday

Jackson Tavern, the newest concept from Gio Taco and Poppy Kitchen parent Metzger Family Restaurants, is opening at 5 p.m. Monday at 2900 N. Swan Road in Plaza Palomino.

Regular hours beginning Tuesday are 11 a.m. to midnight Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday. (Dining room closes at 10 p.m., with a tavern menu available until closing.) Weekend brunch will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

In other Metzger Family Restaurant news:

• Gio Taco. 350 E. Congress St., is celebrating its first birthday with $1 taco specials Dec. 19 including carne asada, pollo asada as well as jelly-filled churros. Drink specials that day include $1 Hop Nosh Uinta IPA drafts and buckets of Session beers (five to a bucket) for $9.

That day also marks the return of Gio’s “12 Days of Tacos” featuring a $1 off taco special that surveys the restaurant’s dozen taco selections.