April 14, 2021

It started as a food truck, grew into a small restaurant and won this year’s Downtown Burger Battle.

Now, Papa Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza is growing into a new location.

The restaurant is moving just a little north on Phillips Avenue, from the Jones421 Building to The Cascade, where it will occupy a 4,300-square-foot space on the north end of the mixed-use building, which includes a large patio.

Papa Woody’s, which is owned by Steve Blumke and Lisa Esser, opened in the Jones421 marketplace in the summer of 2019.

Despite a bumpy 2020, the restaurant emerged from the pandemic and realized it needed more room.

“It was perfect timing for us, the perfect location, perfect people to surround ourselves with, everything we had been waiting for and working for,” Esser said.

Their creation in the Burger Battle caught the attention of Lloyd Cos. broker Scott Blount, who went to eat The Uptowner burger and came back days later wondering if the couple wanted to think about expanding.

“I thought their food was great,” he said. “They needed to expand because they’re busy and they don’t have the seating at that location. It’s just a natural progression.”

The Cascade had a lot going for it, Esser said.

It comes with a liquor license, so they can expand from beer and wine.

It allows for a patio.

They will have space for customers just looking to pick up food to go, but they also can accommodate group dinners and happy hours.

“And oh by the way, the ice skating ribbon is coming across the street,” Esser said. “It was just so many things. And it was really exciting we still get to be part of Uptown, and that’s been part of our success too. We’ve been in an area that’s growing and thriving.”

The design will continue the colors from the current location and keep the “cozy, comfy feeling we went for from the start,” she said. “We want you to walk in and feel like you’re at Papa Woody’s.”

The menu will continue to keep pizza as the focus but build on newer offerings this year since the grill was installed for the Burger Battle, such as a cheeseburger, Philly cheesesteak sandwich and BLT.

“We’ll probably add half a dozen more items,” Esser said, adding that’s Blumke’s territory but that she could see maybe a pasta dish, salad and other sandwiches.

The plan is to be open daily depending on staffing and serve dinner until 9 or 10 p.m. for those coming by after Levitt concerts or other downtown events, with the bar staying open until midnight.

The hope is to minimize downtime during the move, which also will involve relocating the signature pizza oven.

“I’m not leaving that sucker behind, but at the same time, I will be gone that day,” Esser joked of the 3,500-pound oven.

The original truck will be out this season, especially at events, so that will help provide a pizza option during any gaps for the restaurant, she said.

The move to The Cascade also will allow good synergy with other retailers, including Severance Brewing Co., which could partner in serving food, Blount said.

“They have a relationship with those guys already,” he said, adding the apartments in The Cascade’s two buildings also are 98 percent occupied.

“It’s very busy, so you essentially have 204 people on top of your restaurant along with all the people downtown who already are visiting Papa Woody’s.”

The hope is to be open in early August.

“Just a huge thank you to the community,” Esser added. “We’re in COVID time, and we’re growing our business as a restaurant. The whole idea of it seems surreal. We couldn’t without the support we’ve had from the community. We can’t thank people enough.”