Cibo, a popular pizzeria on Fifth Avenue and Fillmore Street in downtown Phoenix, is currently under construction.
Construction on an expansion to the building began a month ago and should be completed by January, costing about $100,000, said manager Michael Krassner.
Cibo was established almost seven years ago and has since outgrown its renovated 1913 bungalow. Krassner said limited kitchen space has always been a problem for the restaurant.
“The kitchen just has a lack of space. As our business grows the expansion will allow us to keep up with the demand,” he said.
A larger kitchen will also allow Cibo to have “a little more flexibility with the menu,” Krassner said.
The expansion will also include an increase in indoor seating, which Krassner explained is particularly important during summer months when customers want to escape the heat.
The expansion of the restaurant, according to Krassner, will not affect the historic quality of the building.
“You have to go through the historical society,” Krassner said. “Everything is on the exterior — nothing to the original house. We wouldn’t be able to do anything to the front.”
Server James Pyper, who has been an employee at Cibo for a year, said working there is“fun” and “fast-paced.”
Pyper said the construction shows the vitality of the restaurant.
“It’s amazing. The fact that they’re building means people like coming here,” he said.
Despite the construction on the building, Cibo is still open for business, serving an array of pizza, pasta, and salad. Pyper said business still seems to be doing well.
“Sometimes people mention they can hear construction through the walls, but people come anyway,” he said.
Cibo caters to a diverse crowd. Both ASU students and business people can regularly be spotted at the local restaurant. Journalism freshman Cody Larkin said he believes the restaurant’s expansion will have a positive impact on the business. Larkin said he thought the expansion could make for a shorter wait for customers.
“I think it’s a really good idea because when I went there, there was a really long wait,” Larkin said.
Contact the reporter at mallory.price@asu.edu
