The former Billy Pie at the corner of Patterson Avenue and Three Chopt Road. (Mike Platania photo)
Billy Fallen’s pizzeria has punted on Patterson.
Earlier this month his restaurant Billy Pie closed at 6919 Patterson Ave. in favor of a full-time home base at Basic City Beer Co. in Manchester.
Billy Fallen
The closure marks the end of a four-year run in the West End for Billy Pie. In the years before the pizzeria moved there in 2018, the 1,700-square-foot space, located at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and Three Chopt Road, had been home to a frozen yogurt shop, dry cleaners and a diner.
Fallen, who also used to own wholesale bakery Billy Bread and the nearby Westhampton Pastry Shop, used the Patterson location as both a pizzeria that sold hot pizza to go, as well as a headquarters for his wholesale frozen pizza business.
Fallen said his lease was up on the Patterson location and he opted to not renew.
“We’d outgrown that space, mainly from the frozen pizza perspective. That part of the business has taken off and I’ve been unable to meet the demand from there,” Fallen said.
Billy Pie was also once the proprietor of pizza at Triple Crossing Beer’s Fulton taproom, but when that contract was up in 2020, Fallen moved into Basic City at 212 W. Sixth St. in Manchester. Fallen said with a new walk-in freezer installed and more production space, Manchester is now Billy Pie’s de facto headquarters.
The pizzeria now uses Basic City Beer Co. as its main hub. (Photo courtesy of Billy Fallen)
“Because of population density and the ongoing growth Manchester has, it’s a ripe market and somewhat underserved,” Fallen said.
The deals with breweries are typically on five-year contracts, and in lieu of subletting, Fallen pays for any equipment needed while the brewery takes a percentage of sales. Fallen said he’s in discussions to put Billy Pie into three other, unnamed breweries in Williamsburg, Fredericksburg and Danville, as well as another in Richmond.
“That’s the side of the business I’m looking to grow. It’s easier to staff and the breweries have the infrastructure,” Fallen said. “If I can have a dozen of these in the next three to four years, that’d be great.”
Fallen’s also preparing to dip into another type of Italian fare.
Along with former Dutch & Co. co-owner Caleb Shriver, Fallen’s preparing to launch Billy Pasta within Ellwood Thompson’s in Carytown. It will offer both hot pasta meals and fresh pasta to-go. Fallen said he’s aiming to have many of the local markets that carry Billy Pie’s pizza also offer Billy Pasta.
Fallen said they’re putting the finishing touches on the menu this week and plan a launch at Ellwood’s early next week.
The former Billy Pie at the corner of Patterson Avenue and Three Chopt Road. (Mike Platania photo)
Billy Fallen’s pizzeria has punted on Patterson.
Earlier this month his restaurant Billy Pie closed at 6919 Patterson Ave. in favor of a full-time home base at Basic City Beer Co. in Manchester.
Billy Fallen
The closure marks the end of a four-year run in the West End for Billy Pie. In the years before the pizzeria moved there in 2018, the 1,700-square-foot space, located at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and Three Chopt Road, had been home to a frozen yogurt shop, dry cleaners and a diner.
Fallen, who also used to own wholesale bakery Billy Bread and the nearby Westhampton Pastry Shop, used the Patterson location as both a pizzeria that sold hot pizza to go, as well as a headquarters for his wholesale frozen pizza business.
Fallen said his lease was up on the Patterson location and he opted to not renew.
“We’d outgrown that space, mainly from the frozen pizza perspective. That part of the business has taken off and I’ve been unable to meet the demand from there,” Fallen said.
Billy Pie was also once the proprietor of pizza at Triple Crossing Beer’s Fulton taproom, but when that contract was up in 2020, Fallen moved into Basic City at 212 W. Sixth St. in Manchester. Fallen said with a new walk-in freezer installed and more production space, Manchester is now Billy Pie’s de facto headquarters.
The pizzeria now uses Basic City Beer Co. as its main hub. (Photo courtesy of Billy Fallen)
“Because of population density and the ongoing growth Manchester has, it’s a ripe market and somewhat underserved,” Fallen said.
The deals with breweries are typically on five-year contracts, and in lieu of subletting, Fallen pays for any equipment needed while the brewery takes a percentage of sales. Fallen said he’s in discussions to put Billy Pie into three other, unnamed breweries in Williamsburg, Fredericksburg and Danville, as well as another in Richmond.
“That’s the side of the business I’m looking to grow. It’s easier to staff and the breweries have the infrastructure,” Fallen said. “If I can have a dozen of these in the next three to four years, that’d be great.”
Fallen’s also preparing to dip into another type of Italian fare.
Along with former Dutch & Co. co-owner Caleb Shriver, Fallen’s preparing to launch Billy Pasta within Ellwood Thompson’s in Carytown. It will offer both hot pasta meals and fresh pasta to-go. Fallen said he’s aiming to have many of the local markets that carry Billy Pie’s pizza also offer Billy Pasta.
Fallen said they’re putting the finishing touches on the menu this week and plan a launch at Ellwood’s early next week.
Best wishes to Billy! He is a talented guy with great ideas and his food is amazing.
Obviously he was forced out f business by Antifa burning down Patterson Ave /s
Really sorry to see him go. My sons took this news hard as it’s their favorite pizza spot. Thanks for feeding us so many take out meals during lock down!!
Thousands of hungry and thirsty residents coming soon to Manchester as the district explodes with apartment construction. He’d well there at Basic, next to Legends.
Frozen dough has always been his thing lately. I remember his original place when fresh bread came out of his oven. I’ve long been a non-customer.
Any chance he recent PANDEMIC caused him to cnsider a more stable, longer lasting dough to prevent ending up with a truckload of unsellable product? I suspect most succesful food providers have had to re-invent themselves in order to survive.
Great it is still here!! I will see him when it opens!! I loved his pizza!!