Pizza Champ (2657 Lyle), a well-loved pizzeria in Maplewood that began operations in January 2022, will cease operations after service on Tuesday, as reported in a social media update from owner Chris Kelling. The announcement stated: “Pizza Champ will be closing after service on December 31st. It’s been a fantastic journey, and we were excited about what 2025 would bring. However, an opportunity arose that was too good to pass up, prompting us to close our doors.”
Kelling advises customers with Pizza Champ gift cards to make use of them by December 31.
Kelling reveals to SLM that the decision to close was unexpected and not pre-planned. “It came about after I received a surprise job offer that aligns better with my skills and experience,” he explains, adding that further details will be shared by his new employer.
Pizza Champ gained a reputation for its large, New York-style 18-inch pizzas, pizza by the slice, salads, and more recently, for the cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes that came from Burger Champ, Kelling’s nearby sister establishment, which closed in June 2024.
Side Project Pizza, which is set to launch in early 2025, will be led by Adam Altnether, Kelling’s former partner at Pizza Champ. Plans for a new pizza concept and menu are in the making, with more information expected soon.
The Backstory
In August 2020, Adam Altnether and Chris Kelling, co-owners of Elmwood, a high-end dining establishment in Maplewood, introduced the pop-up venture Pizza Champ to adapt to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Operating from the Elmwood location, they provided a variety of takeout and delivery pizza options. “It was a lifeline,” Kelling noted back then.
In January 2022, Pizza Champ transitioned into an 800-square-foot standalone venue, eventually sharing the space with Shared (later known as The Patio), a satellite of Cory and Karen King’s Side Project Brewing, conveniently located across the street.
This innovative restaurant-brewery hybrid blurred the boundaries between in-dining and takeaway services. The primary dining area was the patio, which was open-air during pleasant weather and enclosed with heating during winter months. Guests could opt for dining in by ordering via QR codes at their tables or choose to pick up by placing orders for food and beer through the drive-thru window.
In June 2023, Kelling and Altnether decided to part ways. By early 2024, Altnether was chosen to lead the food program at Side Project Brewing, launching the brewery’s first food menu in its 10-year history. What made this initiative unique was its unconventional approach: instead of having an in-house kitchen, Altnether and his team prepared and cooked everything in a mobile kitchen trailer parked behind the brewery. Furthermore, Altnether added charcuterie board selections at Side Project Cellar, the brewery’s James Beard Award–nominated sister bar.
A recent statement emphasized, “With three locations—Side Project Brewery, The Cellar, and The Patio—this transition signifies a culinary expansion for the brewery and aligns with their goal of operating integrated food and beer concepts moving forward.”
“We are thrilled to expand the Side Project family of brands, especially within the Maplewood community,” Cory King stated. “Chris Kelling has done an outstanding job with Pizza Champ, and we are privileged to carry on his commitment to quality and creativity in this new phase.”
Kelling, whose experience encompasses roles such as director of hospitality and development at Pi Pizzeria, captain and dining room manager at The Restaurant at Meadowood, and general manager at Niche Food Group, is equally optimistic. “I valued what Adam and I achieved at Pizza Champ and the positive response to the burgers at Burger Champ, but I’m eager to return to my core competencies.”
More updates will follow as new information becomes available.
December 28, 2024
4:00 PM
