New pizza concept set to debut this summer at prime location

Some clichés are clichés because they are just undeniable truths. One such cliché may be “Location, Location, Location,” which is often said to be the three most important things in making a business successful. The address of 6301 Line Ave. in Shreveport has consistently proven that adage with a string of successful restaurants occupying the space over the years. Fertitta’s 6301, Bistro 6301 and Anvil have all made a success of the address, while the building itself was owned by well-loved restaurateur Joe Fertitta and his wife, Anne. After a legacy of popular and successful eateries in the space, the Fertittas have finally divested themselves of the property. The new owners of the property are partners Cassidy King and Mark Florsheim.

King and Florsheim are making some significant changes to the property which will now house PizzaRev, a fast/casual concept franchise based in Los Angeles.

“There will now be an outdoor patio on the Line Avenue side of the building, with three big windows in front,” King said.

“In the past, this has been more of a fine dining location,” Florsheim said, “but the PizzaRev concept is a more familyfriendly, casual concept. There will be bike racks out front so that patrons can just ride up from the neighborhood and lock their bikes in and come in for a meal or drinks. The patio itself will be dogfriendly, where you can have your dog with you for a meal.”

“You can come in dressed in a business suit or very casual if you like,” King said. “We want to involve the community, and we will offer 20-25 draft beers as well as a full bar and wines.”

One of the changes to the floor plan from past incarnations will be the bar itself. Formerly, the bar was right up front as you came in. That will be gone, and the large dining room in the back will now be used for private events.

The long-time friends first entered the restaurant business with a Counter Culture franchise on Youree Drive, which they operated successfully for five years.

“When we sold the Counter Culture franchise,” said Florsheim, “we kicked around ideas for quite a while and were very careful in choosing our next project. We researched a lot of concepts in Dallas, Houston and Austin and elsewhere until we discovered PizzaRev.”

“We went to California, where the PizzaRev concept was begun, and met with the founders of the company before finally deciding to jump in with a Shreveport franchise,” King said.

“PizzaRev stands for Pizza Revolution,” Florsheim said, “and we liked the idea of pizza, which everybody loves, with a casual, neighborhood atmosphere with very affordable product.”

“It is a unique concept,” King said, “where you go into what is basically a cafeteria-like line, pick your crust (which can be regular, whole wheat or glutenfree), then pick your sauce and then add your toppings … as many toppings as you want, and as much of each topping.

The final price, no matter your pizza or toppings (or how much of each topping), will be $7.99.”

“We are very excited to bring this fast/ casual concept to the Shreveport market,” King said.

King and Florsheim are 50/50 partners in PizzaRev and share a boundless enthusiasm for their new restaurant venture. Once open, they are planning on live music – solo or duo performers, not bands.

The partners are projecting to open the PizzaRev doors within three months and invite everyone out to experience a pizza revolution.

–Karl Hasten