Detroit-style pizza chain Emmy Squared now open in Short Pump

Emmy Squared, which serves Detroit-style pies, recently opened a Short Pump location. The chain also sells burgers, salads and cocktails. (Courtesy Emmy Squared)

A Detroit-style pizza restaurant chain has fired up its ovens in a Short Pump storefront for its entry into the Richmond market.

Emmy Squared opened recently at 2225 Old Brick Road, in the space formerly occupied by Burger Bach in West Broad Village.

The location is the first for Emmy Squared in the Richmond area, and followed the opening of a Charlottesville location earlier this year. The chain now has three locations in Virginia.

“While we recently opened a location in Charlottesville and also operate in Old Town Alexandria, this is our first opportunity to bring our signature Detroit-style Brooklyn Soul to the heart of central Virginia,” Emmy Squared CEO Troy Tracy said in an email. “We’ve had our eye on Richmond for a while. It’s a city that values craft, community, and great food, which aligns perfectly with our brand.”

Emmy Squared’s menu is focused on Detroit-style pizza. The deep-dish style features cheese topping all the way to the edge of the pan, which creates a crispy crust when the cheese caramelizes while baking. The restaurant also serves burgers, salads and cocktails.

Regular-sized pizzas cost $17 to $23, while sandwiches and burgers run $14 to $19, according to the Short Pump location’s menu.

The 3,800-square-foot Short Pump restaurant has seating for 120 people. The space became available when Burger Bach vacated last year after more than more than a decade.

Jim Ashby of Thalhimer handled the lease on behalf of Emmy Squared. Peter Vick and Harrison Hall of Colliers handled the lease on the landlord side.

The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Emmy Squared first opened in New York City in 2016. The company is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and lists more than 30 locations in multiple states on its website. The Short Pump spot opened in late May, and the Charlottesville location held its grand opening in April.

Tracy didn’t reveal any plans for further expansion in the Richmond area, saying the company was “always looking for the right next move, but nothing is confirmed yet.”

Other relatively recent restaurant arrivals to West Broad Village include Ford’s Garage, which opened in the old MPM Tiki Bar location. MPM has relocated to the old Halligan space elsewhere in the neighborhood. Last year, Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão opened at the former Kona Grill space.

Homegrown Detroit-style pizzeria Secret Squares opened in Church Hill in 2024.

The post Detroit-style pizza chain Emmy Squared now open in Short Pump appeared first on Richmond BizSense.