Black-Owned Bird Pizzeria In Charlotte, NC, Makes New York Times List Of Best Pizzas In The US As It Gears Up For Dine-In Expansion

A love for pizza has leveled up the lives of these Black business owners.

Black-owned Bird Pizzeria was featured in the New York Times’ list of best pizza shops nationwide. The roundup, which included 22 restaurants, highlighted businesses across the U.S.

The pizzeria, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been in business since December 2021, Black Enterprise reports.

Husband-and-wife duo Kerrel and Nkem Thompson launched Bird Pizzeria as a pop-up restaurant before entering the takeout space. The pizzeria combines the couple’s love for pizza, which they recalled was the meal they enjoyed on their first date.

Bird Pizzeria has plans to expand its space to allow dine-in seating for customers to enjoy their cuisine after the tattoo shop next door closed and the space became available.

“We prayed about this space,” Nkem said, per The Charlotte Observer. “We’re just like, ‘Man, this would be amazing to be able to not have to pick up our stuff and go to a new location.’… We’re really excited to open our dining room literally as if it was, you know, an extension of our house… Now we’ll have more room for you to stay a while.”

They were moved to open the dine-in expansion as a part of their reflection on the COVID-19 pandemic, when they made pizzas for loved ones from their home.

The dine-in expansion will include a lunch menu and extended hours.