Come September, you’ll have to walk a block further to get your fix of square pizza in Station North.
Due to structural damage and foundation issues at its current home, Joe Squared is planning to move from 133 W. North Avenue to a state-of-the-art space down the street.
Owner Joe Edwardsen says that over the years the deteriorating building has become too expensive to maintain.
“We could stay where we are and maybe make a profit over the next five years, but I always like to go with the long-term plan,” Edwardsen says. “At the new place we’ll be in debt for the next five years, but secure for the next 20.”
The new multi-level space, which sits at 33. W. North Avenue and is owned by longtime Joe Squared customers, adds 40 seats to the restaurant’s current maximum capacity and boasts two bars and a lower level performance area. In addition to its frequent live music shows, the haunt’s talent showcases will be able to integrate comedy shows and poetry readings in the new space.
Edwardsen says that additional perks of the move include the new basement section allowing for private parties—something that Joe Squared has always seen a demand for but could never accommodate—and eliminating the clashing of diners and local performers.
“Sometimes you have diners that talk over the bands, or bands that get so loud that diners can’t hear each other,” Edwardsen says. “That’s always been an issue that doesn’t always work out so well.”
In an attempt to help fund moving costs like relocating the 5,000-lb. oven and all of the restaurant’s furniture, Joe Squared has set up a GoFundMe page to “fill in the gaps” of costs that won’t be covered in loans.
“I’m really hoping people realize we’re not asking for donations,” Edwardsen says about the page that is offering gift-card presales to donors. “It’s essentially just a better term loan than what we can get from the bank.”
In less than two days, the website has raised more than $14,000 from customers pre-paying for their pizza. Edwardsen says although the goal is set at collecting $220,000 in 30 days, the success of the campaign thus far has far exceeded his expectations.
“By the end I thought we might do $10,000, but now I’m thinking we might hit 20,” he says.