Steampunk Pizza will open in Hanover Pie Co.’s old space in Ashland. (Mike Platania photo)
Jeremy and Sarah Chapman are tripling down on an Ashland strip center.
The married couple and restaurateurs are preparing to open Steampunk Pizza at 10396 Leadbetter Road.
The new pizzeria will be located between the Chapmans’ restaurant Industrial Taphouse and their Eat Kitchen and Catering headquarters, which have both operated in the center off Sliding Hill Road for years.
The roughly 1,300-square-foot space came available last year when another pizzeria, Hanover Pie Co., closed down. The Chapmans said they saw it as a chance to try a new concept in Ashland.
Jeremy and Sarah Chapman
“This seemed like it would be a nice little expansion for the Ashland Taphouse, and give us an opportunity to get into another niche other than just bar food,” Jeremy said.
Steampunk will share some kitchen space with Industrial Taphouse, but the pizzeria will be its own independent business.
Steampunk’s menu is still in the works, but Jeremy said they’re considering offering multiple styles of pizza.
“We are going to get a little creative with some toppings and different styles, but it’ll still be pretty straightforward pizza at the end of the day,” Jeremy said. “We’re playing around with whether we want to offer subs and if we want to do maybe a different style, like a Detroit style or not.”
Steampunk will offer takeout, delivery and dine-in, with seating for around 25. Sarah said they’re hoping to open the pizzeria in January 2025.
The Chapmans have been on an expansion kick lately. Along with Steampunk, they opened a second Industrial Taphouse in Goochland earlier this year, as well as Industrial Taphouse Express within the Henrico Sports & Events Center, which Jeremy described as a “glorified concession stand” with a full kitchen that offers restaurant-quality food to teams and parents playing at the new sportsplex.
Jeremy said they’ve been trying to be opportunistic as they add to their holdings.
“We’re trying to slowly grow our portfolio and see where we can fit in with our unique style,” he said.
Another new restaurant coming to the Ashland area is Ash & Olive, a Mediterranean eatery that’s preparing to open along Railroad Avenue in the town’s downtown district.