BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

Send business news tips to LIVELOCAL@ADVOCATEMAG.COM

Olivella’s pizzeria opens in Hillside Village

Charlie Green, who owns Neo’s pizza in Victory Park and another Olivella’s near SMU, also owns this Olivella’s location at Mockingbird and Abrams. The menu includes sandwiches and salads, but is best known for its Neapolitan-style pizza. Cooked in a wood fire oven, the pies live up to the Olivella’s reputation. USA Today named it one of the 50 great pizzas in America, Zagat called it “The First Real Pizza in Dallas” and Rachel Ray called it “the most delicious pizza you’ll ever eat.” Green has made extensive updates since Pizzeria Venti occupied the space, most ostensibly to the patio. The remodeled outdoor area holds 40-50 guests, he tells us.

Parking structure planned near Lakewood Shopping Center

Willingham Property Co. wants to build a two-level parking structure on Paulus Avenue behind the LakewoodTheater The parking structure would include one level underground and one level above ground, with a 6-foot fence surrounding it. The street level would hold 26 spaces and the underground level, 35. The street level is not planned as a structure with walls but more like a parking lot at the surface with one level of underground parking. The street level would sit about one foot above the curb. Willingham owns the Lakewood Theater and the portion of the shopping center that includes the former Matt’s, Centennial and Starbucks Most likely, the parking lot’s lower deck would be used for valet, and the upper deck for employee parking. Willingham is seeking a variance from the City Plan Commission that would allow it to combine two adjacent lots for the property and to build the underground parking structure. If the variance is not approved, Willingham can still make a surface lot, which would hold about 31 cars, under the current zoning.

Mobile pediatricians make house calls in East Dallas Lakewood residents Keith and Alison Bray have launched Mobile Pediatrics of Dallas, providing residential house calls for sick children in select neighborhoods. Serving patients from birth to 18 years old, Mobile Pediatrics is owned and operated by pediatric nurse practitioner Alison Bray and supervised by a Texas medical board licensed emergency room physician. The company hopes to expand its services throughout DFW.

More business bits

frenchvintagehome.com

Olivella’s 6465 E. MOCKINGBIRD OLIVELLAS.COM

Lakewood Village Shopping Center

GASTON AND ABRAMS

LAKEWOODSHOPPINGCENTER. COM

Mobile Pediatrics of Dallas 214.431.5123 MOBILEPEDIATRICSOFDALLAS. COM

French Vintage Home 214.663.5317

FRENCHVINTAGEHOME.COM

Matt’s Rancho Martinez

1904SKILLMAN MATTSTEXMEX.COM

Verona Italian Restaurant 9039GARLAND

214.660.1112

VERONAITALIANCAFE.COM

1 M Streets resident and stylist/photographer Laura McGuire has launched a French home wares website, frenchvintagehome.com.

2 Matt’s Rancho Martinez plans to reopen its new location at Skillman and Live Oak around June 1. 3 A new Italian restaurant, Verona’s, has opened on Garland near Hypnotic Donuts and Barbec’s. This is the third location for Owner Zeqir Lokaj who has a Verona’s in Plano and Alba. 4 Also on Garland, Deaton’s Gift Shop has closed; the Dallas Arboretum has purchased the property.