Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Coming to San Diego

A suite of full service, Chicago-style deep dish pizzerias will soon take the place of Project Pie in San Diego, which has locations in Hillcrest, Chula Vista, and Eastlake. According to Restaurant Hospitality, the company has been taken over by the Los Angeles-based Elite Restaurant Group, which plans to “immediately rebrand the Project Pie stores into Patxi’s Pizza”. Elite has purchased several other chains, including Slater’s 50/50 and Daphne’s Mediterranean, and acquired the Patxi’s Pizza chain last fall.

Founded in 2004 in Palo Alto, Paxti’s Pizza operates restaurants in Northern and Central California, Seattle, and Colorado. The family-friendly eatery is most known for its Chicago-style deep dish pizza, with versions featuring classic pepperoni and sausage, chicken tikka masala, and vegetables with vegan cheese. The menu also includes thin crust pizza, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers.

Project Pie was originally founded by North County restaurateur James Markham, who also helped to launch the MOD Pizza and Pieology brands. Markham is currently focused on opening the Windmill Food Hall in Carlsbad.