Pizza Champ to permanently close Tuesday [Video]

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. — Pizza Champ, the Maplewood pizzeria, will shutter after its last day of service Tuesday, Dec. 31, according to a social media post Saturday by owner Chris Kelling.

In the pizzeria’s space, at 2657 Lyle Ave., Side Project Brewing plans to open Side Project Pizza, a “reimagined pizza concept” with a new menu, in early 2025, the brewery said Saturday in a press release. The Lyle Avenue property is owned by an entity affiliated with Side Project Brewing’s owners, Cory and Karen King, according to county and state records.

Calling Pizza Champ’s closure “a bit more sweet than bitter, but bittersweet nonetheless,” Kelling continued in his post, “It’s been a great run and we were looking forward to crushing 2025. However, an opportunity has come up that couldn’t be …