Detroit City Officials Celebrate Opening Of Black-Owned Pizzeria

(CBS DETROIT) -- A new place to eat is opening in Detroit's Livernois-McNichols neighborhood.

Mayor Mike Duggan along with community members celebrated the opening of The Detroit Pizza Bar, a 4,500 square foot Black-owned business located at 7316 W. McNichols Road.

The company already created 20 jobs and plans to create dozens more, city officials say.

"When developing in corridors like Livernois-Six Mile that have traditionally struggled to get funding for projects, the Strategic Neighborhood Fund has become an indispensable resource, because they allow both the redevelopment and the stabilization of long-forgotten commercial thoroughfares," said Marcus Jones, co-owner of the Detroit Pizza Bar. "The SNF has helped my partner Akunna Olumba and I not only open our business but help make a difference on this stretch of McNichols."

According to a press release, the $1.3 million project is the latest funded by the Strategic Neighborhood Fund, which is a public-private partnership to improve 10 neighborhoods throughout Detroit.

The restaurant officially opens on April 8.

"We created the Strategic Neighborhood Fund to strengthen neighborhoods and to help revitalize the commercial corridors that serve them," said Mayor Duggan.

"The business growth we've seen on Livernois has been tremendous and with the help of strategic SNF investments in businesses like the Pizza Bar, we are seeing the same thing start to happen along McNichols. I'm so proud of Akunna and Marcus for the incredible transformation they've made to their new space."

For more information, visit The Detroit Pizza Bar's Facebook page.

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