Team Behind Zoli’s and Cane Rosso to Bring Detroit-Style Pizza To Addison

The team behind two of DFW’s most-loved pizzerias is launching a new restaurant that will deliver Detroit-style pizzas to North Dallas.

Thunderbird Pies is the latest pizzeria from Jay Jerrier, founder of Cane Rosso & Zoli’s Pizza. The new spot will operate as a ghost kitchen out of the Zoli’s location at 14910 Midway Road in Addison, serving takeout and delivery only, starting Monday, August 10. The new spot was born in part out of the coronavirus pandemic, with restaurants struggling to make ends meet with limited dine-in service, but also because the team behind Thunderbird Pies wanted to bring Detroit-style pizzas to the Metroplex, according to the restaurant’s website.

Detroit-style pizzas are baked in a rectangular pan, and are usually topped with Wisconsin brick cheese as opposed to mozzarella. The end result is a buttery, crispy, chewy crust slathered with tomato sauce and other toppings.

Pizza expert Lee Hunzinger, who has been part of the Zoli’s team for a while, has come up with eight signature pies for Thunderbird, including the Budd, a traditional Detroit pizza with caramelized cheese crust; the Honey Bastard, with hot soppressata salami, bacon marmalade and habanero honey; and the vegetarian-friendly Lafayette Green, with crispy eggplant, olives and jalapeño pesto.

Jerrier told CultureMap that Thunderbird Pies may some day transition to a more traditional dine-in restaurant, but for now, diners can place their order for Motor City-style pies by visiting Thunderbird’s website starting August 10.

• Zoli’s Lee Hunzinger Talks Life in the Pizza Business [EDFW]