Old World Pizzeria coming to city downtown

By Grace Lovins

A new pizzeria is set to take the spot of the former Café Succo location at 600 N. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham after city commissioners approved the plans for the new restaurant during the Monday, March 23, meeting.

Named Old World Pizzeria, the establishment currently has one other location, the original location in Saginaw. Cyrus Garmo, owner of the new business, said he is working with the chef from the original Saginaw location for the new spot.

City planner Leah Blizinski told commissioners that the restaurant is not planning on serving alcohol and it is not a bistro, but they are required to obtain a special land use permit since they are located in the O2 (Office Commercial) zoning district at the north end of downtown.

She added that there are eight seats proposed for inside the building and there is a common outdoor space outside of the restaurant shared between building tenants that the restaurant can make use of.

Blizinski and Garmo explained during the meeting that the pizzeria does not have ownership of the outdoor seating space, and it was part of Garmo’s lease that the area is to be shared between the building tenants. Garmo said that since the area is right outside the restaurant, the pizzeria staff will make sure trash is picked up and the space is kept clean.

With few questions and concerns noted, commissioners unanimously approved the special land use permit for the pizzeria in a 7-0 vote.