Ciao Down Pizza at the Metal Arts Village serve its final pizzas on Wednesday, marking the end of its run at the Dodge location. Founder and CEO Paul M. Reyes said the decision comes after years of balancing overwhelming crowds and limited kitchen space.
“This closer is due to several factors but the biggest culprit is a small kitchen (600sq ft) and a lot of seats at Tucson Hop Shop (over 200),” Reyes said in an email. “On these busier nights in season we are making 300+ pies resulting in our guest experiencing a 45-90 minute wait for a pizza. After coming in hungry and having an brew or two next door while waiting an hour the hangry kicks in and its not a good time for our guest or our crew. We have seen a lot of employee burnout with the increase in volume over the 3 years we have been open.”
Reyes added that burnout and his desire to maintain quality drove the decision. “My focus has always been on changing the F&B industry for the people who dedicate their life to it,” he said.
Introducing The Nacho Nook
On Tuesday, October 28, the space will soon reopen as The Nacho Nook, a fast-casual spot specializing in “elevated nachos served fast.”
“The new concept is called ‘The Nacho Nook’ featuring elevated nachos served fast,” Reyes said. “We will be marinating and grilling our carne asada, and chicken in house, slow braising our carnitas for 18 hours, and crafting our own green chili queso.”
The menu will feature three nacho sizes: Mini Nook, Big Nook, and Party Nook.
Guests can also enjoy a full lineup of hand-shaken margaritas in their casual hangout backyard nook:
- The Classic One – lime, Agave, triple sec, blanco tequila
- The Fancy One – Clase Azul tequila, grand mariner, and a gold dusted Maldon rim
- The Spicy One – jalapeño, Tajín, with blanco tequila
- The Fruity One – prickly pear, fresh lime, blanco tequila
- The Smokey One – mezcal shaken with lime & agave
- The Skinny One – fresh lime, agave, and seltzer
- The Legendary One – a nod to their Legendary Snake Bite pizza, made with Don Julio reposado tequila, raspberry chipotle jam, fresh lime, jalapeño.
Sweet treats and continued growth
Neighboring TREAT Dessert Studio will remain open, offering gelato and desserts from Executive Pastry Chef Bina. Reyes said TREAT will debut new items like tres leches cake, caramel flan, and churro gelato to complement the new menu.
“The Nacho Nook is a concept that we had not intended on launching quite yet, however being a victim of our own success we wanted something that would be better geared towards the large crowds that descend into our neighbor’s beer garden in Tucson Hop Shop,” Reyes said.
What’s next for Ciao Down
While the Dodge location transitions, Ciao Down’s other ventures continue to thrive. “This closure is exclusive to our location on Dodge. Oro Valley will remain open, The Truck is still catering, and Marana is still opening soon,” Reyes said.
The Nacho Nook is located at 3230 N. Dodge Blvd. Ste E. Keep up with Ciao Down Pizza on Instagram.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
