A new pizza eatery is coming to Old Town Monrovia in February, but owner Jose Moctezuma wants patrons to know it's not going to be the average place they would normally go to get a slice.
Moctezuma, who also owns Loteria Cantina & Grill on East Colorado Boulevard, plans to open Flamzz in that spot on Feb. 14.
He describes Flamzz as similar to Pieology, a pizza chain that allows patrons to go down the line and pick assembled sauces and toppings.
"It's not going to be a little pizza joint," he said. "I am spending $30,000 on a pizza oven. I am investing a lot of money in Monrovia."
Even though Loteria Cantina will be moved out of its current location, Moctezuma said it won't be going far. He plans to relocate it to a spot on Myrtle Avenue. He is negotiating a lease to move the Mexican restaurant and reopen a jazzed up version of the cantina by the summer.
Moctezuma, who has been in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years, bought Loteria Cantina, formerly Enrique's Tamales, in 2009, he said. The business has grown and he said he thinks he can continue that growth at a new location.
He said his pizza restaurant will be the first Flamzz, but not the last. He wants to have a chain.
"I am very focused," he said.
He said he got the idea for the spelling of the name with two ZZs at the end from one of his investors, who has two children whose names begin with Z.
Moctezuma said he has connected with Monrovia, donating to youth programs, local schools, and churches, and in turn, the community has supported him.
"The more you do for the community, the more they want to help you," he said,
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