Pizzeria Don Luca is under new ownership.
 
Alex White, who recently bought the business from Tony Perez, is bringing new flavor to the restaurant with upgrades to the food and ambiance in the works.
 
The pizza sauce, which previously consisted of just crushed tomatoes, has been dressed up with simple but flavorful additions like fresh basil, garlic, salt and olive oil. Soon, pre-shredded mozzarella will be replaced with a custom blend shredded in-house and Italian sausage will be prepared from scratch.
 
“We’re trying to make everything in-house,” White said, adding that he intends to start locally sourcing as much of the restaurant’s produce as possible.
 
The improved toppings will continue to adorn homemade pizza dough. Other menu items including calzones, salads and baked wings — which can now be dipped in homemade ranch dressing — are still available alongside the thin-crust pizzas. Beer and wine will soon join these items.
 
The building itself will also be revamped. White hopes to transform five picnic tables in front of the building into something “a little more homey, where you feel like you’re at Pizzeria Don Luca instead of sitting on the sidewalk.”
 
Behind the eatery, he said he plans to add more seating as well as a fire pit and lounge chairs to create a space to hang out.
 
Pizzeria Don Luca is White’s first restaurant, although White brings experience and passion to the role: He has worked in restaurants for years, plus he and his wife are foodies who love to cook and eat. On top of that, White said he was lucky to inherit a solid staff when he bought the restaurant.
 
“I’ve got two employees that came over from the previous owner and they’re absolute gems,” he said.
 
While delivery is not currently an option, White said the restaurant will begin the service within the downtown area in coming months.
 
Pizzeria Don Luca, located at 1215 N. Fourth St., is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon until 9 p.m. Hours of operation will soon expand to seven days a week.