Todd Mussman, Ryan Turner, and Chris Hall, the Smyrna locals and Unsukay Concepts partners behind Muss & Turner’s, Eleanor’s, Local Three Kitchen & Bar, and co-founders of Giving Kitchen, will open MTH Pizza on October 14, according to a press release Friday.
The neighborhood pizzeria, located doors down from Muss & Turner’s in the Ivy Walk complex, replaces Little Azio.
“I got my start in pizza, throwing pies at Pizza Hut, Papa John’s and Fellini’s as a teenager, so this is full circle for me,” Chris Hall said in the release.
“All three of us share a love of pizza and we want this concept to reflect our personal take on what makes a good pizza. People ask us what style we serve, but we’re not emulating any one style, we’re making it our own and it’s unique to our restaurant.”
MTH Pizza, an acronym created by taking the first initial of each of the partners’ last names, will serve 16-inch pies influenced by the seasons of the year and the “whim of the partners.”
The dough will be scratch-made with non-GMO, high-gluten flour barring additives or conditioners, minimal yeast, and fermented in cold temps for at least 72 hours.
All pies are baked in a Renato brick oven.
“There’s art and science behind pie-making,” Todd Mussman said.
“Everyone knows the crust is the foundation of a great pie. For the last six months, I’ve been obsessed with researching, testing and perfecting our dough. My wife even nicknamed me ‘doughboy.’ Our process produces a crust that has nice flavor and a crispy edge where it touches the oven, but with a soft, delicious chew at the base; the perfect combo for us.”
The restaurant features three graffiti murals designed by local artist Matt Fields who goes by the moniker LETRS.
The first mural is inspired by the Atlanta-filmed flick Baby Driver and features a view of Smyrna’s Atlanta Road as seen heading into downtown Atlanta.
The second features an ode to Mussman’s new nickname through a spread of Ice Cube’s “Check Yo Self” lyrics (“I make dough, but don’t call me doughboy”) alongside “iconic” Smyrna images.
The third is a nod to Team Hidi and Giving Kitchen.
A 20-inch disco ball rounds out the design of the dining room with music being an “integral part of the ambiance” featuring a communal playlist populated by team favorites.
“At the end of the day, we’re opening a pizza joint that we and our families would want to frequent ourselves,” Ryan Turner said.
“Great food and drink made with love, in a clean comfortable atmosphere, wrapped with warm hospitality. We hope the unique value proposition and a casual, fun approach of MTH will be a welcomed addition to our neighborhood.”
In addition to five classic pies and five seasonally-inspired rotating pizzas, the menu will feature antipasto, salads, gelato, cannolis, beer and wine.
Diners can expect full-service dining beginning with dinner service only, but with plans to add lunch service in the near future.
MTH Pizza will be open Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m.
