Third time is the charm for this pizza restaurant in downtown Wilmington

The pizzeria located at the end of North Fourth Street in downtown Wilmington has been open since 2021. What was first Wheelhouse Pizza, and then Pizzeria Don Luca, now has its third owner.

Alex White has a background in restaurants and has a special love for pizza. He took over the pizzeria at 1215 N. Fourth St. in Wilmington’s Brooklyn Arts District about a year and a half ago.

Now, he said the word is getting out about their specialty and customizable pizzas, baked chicken wings, and beer and wine. This year, they’ve had some of their best months in business so far.

Better, creative pies

White said they slice their own meats and grate cheese by hand and have improved the crust.

“It has a better chew,” he said.

In addition to popular pizzas like Hawaiian and Margherita, Don Luca also has fun specialty pies. Hot Honey Pepperoni and PBR (or Pickle, Bacon Ranch) are among the best sellers. (In fact, he tasted ranch dressing from 50 local spots before creating his own recipe.) New to the menu are the Elote (or street corn) Pizza, the Miso Mushroom and a Charcuterie Pizza.

Serving the BAD

One of the reasons White took over the business is the up-and-coming neighborhood that surrounds it.

“I love the neighborhood and I’m excited for the future of this area,” he said. “And I love the building. It’s a really cool, 100-year-old building.”

There isn’t indoor seating at the restaurant, but there are picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy views of the nearby park and Isabel Holmes Bridge. It also draws customers from several nearby bars, like Flytrap Brewing, Bottega Art & Wine and Rally Point Bar & Arcade.

Two-wheeled delivery

If neighbors don’t want to come to the restaurant, White said he has eBikes equipped with hotboxes for local delivery, including to apartment complexes like Pier 33, Flats on Front and Sawmill Point. With an off-premises license, they also sell beer and wine. White said he believes in having low-cost options, so there are three $2 beers available.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Pizzeria Don Luca restaurant in Wilmington, NC, has third owner