GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Chris McKellar, the founder and owner of Love's Ice Cream, is adding a pizzeria called "Rocket Pies," and moving into a new space inside the Downtown Market's indoor market hall.

The new restaurant will move into space currently occupied by Relish Green Grocer, market officials announced on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The restaurant's name is derived from "roquette," the French term for arugula. In Italy, raw arugula is often added to pizzas just before the baking period ends or immediately afterwards, giving it a sweet, peppery flavor, McKellar said.

"Rocket Pies will have a veggie-positive focus on Neapolitan-style pizzas and hearty salad bowls using certified organic ingredients," the announcement said.

"The Downtown Market is an ideal location to develop a new food business, satiate West Michigan's pallet for a healthy, locally sourced alternative to traditional Americanized pizza and to meet the expanding needs of Love's Ice Cream," said McKellar.

McKellar said his pizzas will feature "thin, crispy-chewy crust, organic tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese made from Michigan grass and non-GMO fed cows, and fresh vegetables from the likes of Green Wagon Farm, or several of the urban farmers popping up in Grand Rapids. "

"Delicious pizza done right, can also be a nourishing meal," McKellar said. "Rocket Pies will bridge the gap between farm and table by placing the same attention on organic, local, non-GMO ingredients that we have poured into Love's Ice Cream.

"We're excited to extend our food philosophy to meal times, with thoughtful options for omnivores, vegans, and those with food intolerances alike."

As one of the market's first tenants 21/2 years ago, McKellar also acquired Relish Green Grocer. He will co-locate all three businesses into the produce market's 3,125-square-foot space, a six-fold expansion of Love's current retail and production space.

"Relish will continue to be very much like my pantry at home, but focused intently on fresh ingredients from local farms, as well as non-perishable staples like rice, legumes, pasta and other goods a family needs to create the core of a meal all in one place," McKellar said.

"In addition to keeping a fresh grocer presence for local consumers, Relish will be a seasonal source of fresh, local ingredients for Rocket Pies, as well as a destination for CSA and local farm pickups."

The new location will also serve to expand Love's Ice Cream's scoop shop offerings and ice cream dessert experiences. The combined Rocket Pies/Love's Ice Cream space will provide seating for 40 guests and a more convenient location and hours for guests.

McKellar also is applying for a Class C liquor license, which will allow the restaurant to sell beer, wine and cocktails.

The opening for Rocket Pies, the new Love's Ice Cream location and Relish Green Grocer remodeling is projected for spring, market officials said.

"The Downtown Market is a place where food entrepreneurs can experiment with new business models and flavors. We have no shortage of success stories, and Love's is one of our most prominent. We are thrilled to see Chris grow," said Mimi Fritz, president and CEO of the Downtown Market in the announcement.

"Love's Ice Cream has become renowned for its meticulous dedication to the art and science of crafting ice cream using wholesome and responsibly sources ingredients. I am confident we can expect the same dedication to excellence with Rocket Pies," Fritz said.

The addition of a pizzeria is one of several changes underway at the market, which opened 21/2 years ago at 435 Ionia Avenue SW.

Construction has finally begun on the Social Kitchen and Bar, a casual sit-down restaurant that announced it was arriving one year ago. A spokeswoman for the market said the restaurant is scheduled to open in March.

No replacement also has been announced for the space occupied by Montello Meat Market, one of the market's original tenants that closed in early December. An announcement for its replacement is coming soon, the spokeswoman said.



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Jim Harger covers business for Mlive Media Group. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.