This bustling downtown Columbia street is set to get a new pizza restaurant
A new pizza spot will soon open in the heart of downtown Columbia.
Black Dog Pizza, which says in a release that it will offer neo-Neapolitan pizza, sandwiches and more, plans to open at 1649 Main St., in the space beneath Hendrix restaurant. The pizzeria will debut in “mid-to-late January,” per the release.
The restaurant will, the release noted, offer pizza featuring the “signature elements of classic Neapolitan pies: leopard-spotted char, airy dough, and high-quality ingredients like house-made dough, fresh mozzarella, and Bianco DiNapoli Tomatoes — but with a key upgrade: a crispier, more structured crust that’s made to be eaten by the slice.”
Black Dog comes from restaurateurs Jon Sears and Chris Davis, who own a number of establishments in Columbia including Hendrix, Jake’s, and No Name Deli, among others.
“This style bridges the gap between tradition and how people actually eat pizza,” Sears said in a statement. “It’s rooted in authenticity but designed for busy lunches, casual dinners, and grabbing a slice at the bar.”
The pizzeria is coming to the space that formerly was home to the Woody on Main, the dance club that closed last year. Sears first confirmed to The State in September 2025 that a pizza restaurant would be going into the Woody space.
Aside from neo-Neapolitan pizza, Black Dog will offer sandwiches, salads, appetizers and a full bar, the release noted. Once it debuts, the pizzeria will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
