A family-owned pizzeria that had been owned by the same people for over two decades will be sold to a duo of local restaurateurs.
Longtime Pizza 51 owner Jason Pryor confirmed the change of hands on Friday, adding that he and his wife, Shannon Pryor, were stepping away from the two locations of the pizzeria to “enjoy the fruits of our labor.”
But it isn’t the end of Pizza 51, he said. They sold the pizzeria to Anthony St. Clair and Spencer Shaw. Pryor said St. Clair is the primary owner, while Shaw is a partner and investor.
“It’s very complimentary to my wife and I that (St. Clair and Shaw) have been customers and fans of Pizza 51 for quite some time, so we’re happy to be able to transition with someone who appreciates what we’ve done,” Pryor said.
The two new owners came together after Shaw acquired Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen & Bar on Southwest Boulevard, reported the Kansas City Business Journal. St. Clair had been a longtime customer there, and when he decided he wanted to own a restaurant, he sought advice from Shaw on taking over Pizza 51. The two then became business partners.
They told the Business Journal, and Pryor reiterated to The Star, that no changes to Pizza 51’s menu or “vibe” are expected due to the sale.
“Expect the same menu options and the same vibe, if you will, because that vibe is created by our employees and customers,” Pryor said.
Pryor and his wife operated Pizza 51 for 22 years, a major feat in an industry that sees businesses close often with much shorter lifespans. Their first location, inside an old filling station at 5060 Oak St., is what started it all and still sits there today.
Then Pizza 51 expanded to Fairway, and as recently as last year, Olathe at 200 S. Kansas Ave. — also in a building that used to be a gas station in the 1960s. The Fairway location closed in 2019.
The pizzeria’s two locations serve pizza by the slice and 14-inch, 18-inch and 26-inch pies. Guests can customize their pie with toppings of their choice or opt for a specialty pizza, like the Highway Special (a supreme) or a Cowtown Lovers (which comes with four meats). They also serve sandwiches, appetizers, calzones, salads and soups.
Pizza 51 slices were also available at Milwaukee Deli. Pryor, who is involved with the historic deli, said pizza would continue to be available there, but it won’t be branded as Pizza 51 pie.
The change of hands is in its final stages, and Pryor said Pizza 51 is expected to remain open during the the transition to new owners.
The Kansas City Star
Katelyn Umholtz is The Star’s Food Insider and covers Kansas City’s restaurant scene and food and beverage news. She comes to Kansas City from Boston, where she was an award-winning food and restaurant reporter for Boston.com and the Boston Globe Media Partners. She has worked in newsrooms across the country for nearly a decade as an education journalist, breaking news reporter and editor. Katelyn is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she studied journalism.
