JENNA RIMENSNYDERA little over four years ago, the beloved Paci’s Pizza in Tampa closed its doors. Customers took to the web when there was no sign of reopening a year later: “Does anyone know what the deal is with Paci’s pizza? They’re easily the best pizza place in Tampa Bay and they’ve been closed for more than a year now for 'remodeling.' I’m just wondering if anyone knows whats taking so long and if they’re ever actually going to reopen. I need my fix, man,” proclaimed one Redditor.

Word on the street was that Paci’s was rebranding under a new name, but owner Skip Glass was also debating whether or not he wanted to stay with the pizza business.

Lo and behold, in January 2019, Glass opened the doors and launched Mirro’s Pizzeria at the same location, 2307 South Dale Mabry Hwy. The name change is an ode to Glass’ maternal grandfather: “I wanted to honor him by rebranding with his last name.” Still committed to serving up New York-style pies and calzones, Mirro’s is also offering new appetizers, including family recipe meatballs and a selection of salads.

The interior has received a facelift as well, transitioning to a sleek black-and-white aesthetic with red accents. Although the space is elevated, customers are still encouraged to “fold it, don’t fork it,” when enjoying the massive New York-style slices.

As of right now, hours of operation are strictly serving dinner, 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and open until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. “There is a demand to open for lunch, but we are slowly ramping back up,” Glass says, reassuring that a midday slice will be available to customers in the coming months.

The only setback that is hindering the Mirro’s team is their production process, “We’re old-school,” Glass explains. “Because of the size of our space, we can only make and proof so much dough daily.” Mirro’s philosophy is to use fresh dough for each pizza coming out of the kitchen, and if they open for lunch hours prematurely, that means they’re taking pies away from the dinner crowd. “It’s a good problem to have,” Glass says. “I want to make sure what I’m putting out there is the same for you as the next person.”

Just because the hours are limited doesn’t mean the pizzeria is holding back on the booze. The restaurant offers a solid beer list ranging from PBR to Peroni, and a wine selection that can be ordered by the glass or bottle.

Mirro’s is also serving up the classic desserts like cannoli and sfogliatella.

The cult following is pleased to have the pizzeria back — and is patiently waiting for expanded service to be announced.

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