Zeke’s Pizza & Coffee opens its doors July 19 at 161 N. Sixth Ave., blending three Italian-American favorites in one venue. Founder Ezekiel “Zeke” Gebrekidane brings the concept to the city center with hand-tossed pizza, Italian-style coffee, and locally sourced gelato.
From Eritrea to Tucson: A Journey Rooted in Community
Born in Eritrea, Gebrekidane moved to Tucson at 13 and graduated from the University of Arizona. Over the past decade, he has operated Easy Tax Services AZ, LLC and the east-side location of Blackjack Pizza at 8321 E. Broadway Blvd., which shares a building with his accounting office.
With Zeke’s Pizza & Coffee, he returns to downtown, fulfilling a longtime goal.
“An opportunity popped up, and I wanted to come closer to downtown,” Gebrekidane said. “We’re just happy to be here.”
Zeke’s occupies a renovated three-story, 14,000-square-foot building that once housed Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona. The space now features:
- A ground-level café with industrial-meets-modern decor
- Private dining rooms for 4–12 guests
- A basement event space for up to 100
- Second-story office rentals
Guests can dine indoors or relax on a street-facing patio that offers views of the nearby train track.
Pizza with Regional Influences
Zeke’s menu keeps it traditional but inclusive. Diners can choose between hand-tossed thin-crust slices. Gluten-free cauliflower crust is also available. Pizzas range from classics like Hawaiian and veggie to the “Hitch,” a spicy Southwestern pie with a New Mexico kick. Other options include calzones, salads, and wings.
“We’re keeping it as simple as possible,” Gebrekidane said.
Zeke’s partners with local favorite Frost Gelato for its dessert offerings, maintaining the same recipes, prices, and scoops Tucsonans love.
For coffee, the shop brews Ethiopian beans in an Italian style in a nod to Gebrekidane’s heritage and global influences.
A Project Years in the Making
The buildout took nearly two years, Gebrekidane said. With support from Rio Nuevo and the City of Tucson, Zeke’s emerged as a revitalized hub for both dining and community. Rio Nuevo invested $237,488 into the project. Gebrekidane and his team contributed $800,000 for renovation and equipment on top of a $1.4 million building purchase finalized in July 2023.
“We’re just fortunate enough Rio Nuevo, the city, everybody who participated has been very helpful.” he said.
Grand Opening and Hours
Zeke’s Pizza & Coffee will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 19 at 11 a.m. Regular hours will run 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday through Saturday. Hours may adjust based on customer demand.
Customers who spend at least $20 can enjoy validated parking at the Tucson City Court lot at 140 E. Alameda St.
Third-party delivery will be available through DoorDash and Uber Eats.
Zeke’s Pizza & Coffee is located at 161 N. Sixth Ave. For more information, call 520-540-1100 or visit zekespizzaandcoffee.com.
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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.
