Central Florida

Takeout-Focused Pizza Concept Coming To St. Petersburg

House-made pizza dough and sauces anchor the fast-casual concept planned for St. Petersburg.

Photo courtesy of Kitty's House of Pizza.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Kitty’s House of Pizza is aiming to open in the first quarter of 2026 at 4059 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713, owner Steve Garrahan told Business Debut.

The concept will prioritize takeout and delivery with limited indoor seating.

What to Expect

Kitty’s House of Pizza is designed as a fast-casual operation, with customers able to order at the counter, online, or for delivery, with some waitstaff service planned for dine-in guests. Garrahan said the dining room will have limited seating, around the mid-20s.

The space is a 1963 Shell gas station, and Garrahan said the buildout will lean into a midcentury modern look, including restoring the storefront closer to the original design based on historic building plans.

“My daughter has a cat. Her name is Kitty,” Garrahan told Business Debut regarding the namesake of the pizzeria. “The building is a 1963 Shell gas station, so a lot of the buildout will lean midcentury modern, and Kitty is kind of a midcentury modern name as well, so it just kind of plays all together.”

The pizza style is “a cross between New York and Neapolitan,” Garrahan told Business Debut, with dough made in-house and fermented for three days. He said the team plans to make ingredients like sauce in-house whenever possible, rather than relying on pre-made products.

The menu is still being finalized, but Garrahan said guests can expect between six and nine pizzas in two sizes, plus a small lineup of pasta, sides, desserts, and a developing salad menu.

Ice Cream Shop Background

Garrahan and business partner Kurt Drake, co-owners of Brite Ice Scoop Shops, are building Kitty’s House of Pizza in part to support the growth of their ice cream production. Garrahan said the company currently operates five ice cream shops and relies on a commissary kitchen to make ice cream from scratch, but the team has outgrown its current cold storage capacity.

The new location will allow for expanded prep and freezer space for the ice cream side, with the pizza restaurant occupying the other portion of the building. Garrahan also said Kitty’s House of Pizza will sell Brite Ice Scoop Shops ice cream in pints.

Photo courtesy of Kitty's House of Pizza.

Opening Timeline

The team is targeting a first-quarter 2026 opening, Garrahan said, with a goal of opening by the end of March.

Hours

Kitty’s House of Pizza is currently planning to be open seven days a week. Garrahan said tentative hours are expected to run later on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with shorter evening hours under consideration Monday through Thursday.