Pizza My Heart

In 1993, the Bay Area’s pizza pride and joy, Pizza My Heart, opened its second location in the city of Santa Cruz. The original space was 2,524 square feet and seated only 28 people, resulting in a line out the door every day. Twenty years later, owner Chuck Hammers enlisted WRD to help expand the beloved pizza joint into the recently vacated 3,840-square-foot space next door.

While WRD was hard at work designing and managing the renovation of the adjoining space, Pizza My Heart remained fully operational in its original location. Upon completion, the restaurant seamlessly moved operations into the new space while the original area underwent its own remodel. Since both spaces were finished and combined in 2013, the expanded restaurant has been able to accommodate 145 seats and has upgraded from one to four pizza ovens. And yet, the line is still out the door most days…

Inspired by the local surf scene and using Pizza My Heart’s signature red, WRD created a stylish, fun-loving atmosphere perfect for any family meal. Notable design details include a custom wood counter—matched to portions of the dining area flooring—and a beer tap set within a tiled alcove beneath a retro sign.