It’s been years within the making. And this Thursday, lastly, Moto Moda is opening the mix pizzeria/classic motorbike store of Jimmy Pruitt and Andy Mumma’s goals.
The 2 met in 2011 and have been combining their love of excellent meals, good drinks, classic and traditional transportation, and good neighborhood hangs ever since. Pruitt operated his Moto Moda store, promoting classic motorbike bikes, clothes and helmets from an Airstream close to the flagship Barista Parlor in East Nashville and in a small store close to Chopper. Mumma is the proprietor of Barista Parlor, Chopper and Maiz de la Vida.
They wished a brick-and-mortar spot, and in 2018 have been a part of an effort to rezone Riverside Village to permit a multi-use improvement at that nook with Moto Moda within the previous Fond Object house. That didn’t occur — the realm has now been developed with out the residential piece, however loads of eating places.
Pruitt and Mumma discovered the proper location for his or her brainchild: a Nineteen Forties-era trucking firm, with authentic storage doorways that open to let in mild (and presumably, bikes), much like that Barista Parlor aesthetic. The 5,000-square-foot house shall be residence to a pizzeria with a full bar and the motorbike store promoting bikes and attire. Mumma has numerous expertise engaged on adaptive reuse areas, and the brand new Moto Moda will slot in. The house features a dog-friendly patio and skylights indoors for much more pure mild.
The property’s improvement was delayed by pandemic-related points, however meaning the property price the workforce lower than it will now to construct an area in Wedgewood-Houston. The delay shall be a profit for patrons, as Mumma guarantees a spot reasonably priced for locals, with $7 happy-hour drinks and different pricing that make it doable to come back for repeat enterprise, moderately than solely for a particular night time out.
“We wish to be a bit of gem within the neighborhood,” Mumma says, “elevated however accessible.”
Moto Moda shall be open seven days per week for each lunch and dinner, with lunch centered on pizza by the slice and dinner for complete pies. The vibe is supposed to be that of an Italian American getaway, someplace you experience your bike with your folks, then sit with a slice and an Aperol spritz. Stroll-ins are welcome and reservations can be found at dinner.
Pruitt and Mumma introduced in Wes Scoggins (also referred to as the Jewish Cowboy) as their govt chef. Scoggins has numerous pizza expertise, together with serving to to open Pinky Ring Pizza in Madison and dealing at Roberta’s at City Cowboy in East Nashville.
“There’s numerous good pizza in Nashville,” Mumma says, “however not numerous New York-style pizza.”
The plan is to have six mounted pizza varieties on the menu (together with classics like cheese, pepperoni, sausage and meatball, and alla vodka) and 6 rotating seasonal pies. Mumma’s favourite is The Crimson Line, made with mozzarella, soppressata and shaved fennel.
Working with Nashville’s Bootleg Biology, Scoggins developed a proprietary naturally fermented dough utilizing a mix of untamed Texas yeast and wild Nashville yeast. He named the fermentation after his grandmother Juanita.
“That is a few of the finest dough I’ve ever finished,” he says.
Along with pizza, the menu will embrace antipasti and a full bar menu of traditional spritzes, amari, Negronis, and bourbon and tequila cocktails.
Because of the “not-tourist pricing,” the neighborhood vibes and the pizza recipes, Pruitt and Mumma promise you don’t have to be a fan of classic transportation to be into Moto Moda. When you do like bikes, effectively, that’s an added bonus.
Moto Moda is situated at 722A Merritt Ave.
