A brand new pizza restaurant called Rodrigo’s Craft Pizza is getting closer to making its debut in Five Points, located at 1029 Park St.
The new pizza shop from owner Alex Rodriguez will move into the former home of Crane Ramen, which closed last November after four years, according to The Florida Times-Union. Rodrigo’s Craft Pizza expects to open in early December, offering fresh-from-scratch pizzas made with seasonal ingredients. On top of pizzas, the restaurant also offers a handful of pasta dishes, salads, and more. The menu is being finalized, but the pizzas will be traditional Neopolitan-style with plenty of fresh ingredients.
“We firmly believe that superb pizzas commence with exceptional ingredients,” according to the company’s website. “That’s why we’ve cultivated partnerships with local and top-tier suppliers, ensuring that each tomato, basil leaf, and grain of flour is of the utmost quality. Our dedication to local sourcing and seasonality isn’t a mere marketing tactic; it’s a commitment to our guests that we’ll never compromise on ingredient quality.”
Rodriguez is originally from New York, where his family are longtime restaurant owners. He says he chose Five Points after moving to St. Johns County last year for its vibrant sense of community and the opportunity to open a restaurant that would be the first of its kind in Five Points. Despite the excitement, Rodrigo’s Craft Pizza will sit near Biggie’s Pizza and Sun-Ray Cinema’s Pizza Cave, with plenty of other nearby pizza-related restaurants. The new restaurant hopes it will go beyond just serving up slices of pizza.
“At Rodrigo’s Craft Pizza, we aren’t just creating pizza; we’re shaping an experience,” the website says. “Located in the heart of Jacksonville’s historic Five Points district, our pizzeria is a labor of love, born from our desire to forge remarkable moments with family and friends. We’re not satisfied with merely being another pizza and pasta spot; we aspire to be a haven for pizza enthusiasts, a place where each bite narrates a tale of craftsmanship, quality, and community.”
