A once grab-and-go Santa Clara pizzeria will soon offer seating, bolstering its neighborhood vibe.

A Slice of New York (ASoNY), located at 3443 Stevens Creek Blvd., is taking over its former neighbor, the long-standing blues venue JJ’s Lounge. The co-op has been having sewer issues, necessitating construction.

Kirk Vartan, ASoNY’s founder and general manager, said since the business needed that work done, it was a good opportunity to expand. The additional space will give the business enough space to add between 25 and 30 seats. A restroom, bigger display and extra prep space will round out the remodel.

However, the move is a gambit. A lack of employees to work both locations caused management to shutter ASoNY’s Sunnyvale location last year.

From a practical standpoint, Vartan said keeping the Sunnyvale location would have made more sense. However, the team decided to reinvest in Santa Clara. Closing the Santa Clara location would have “broke my soul,” he said.

“It is such a part of our ethos and such a part of our DNA,” he said. “This is a joint decision … the organization made this decision collectively. It was very democratic.”

Part of the benefit of expanding, Vartan said, is that it gives more options. If it is slow or the pizzeria is understaffed, they can simply close the seating area and return to the grab-and-go setup. Further, he said, the business can rent out the seating area for parties, creating a “high-touch, low-effort experience.”

Already more than $450,000 into expansion costs, Vartan has been taking to Reddit to seek input on how to fund the effort. Many commenters floated ideas such as having sponsorship plaques or donating money to get discounts for a fixed time. 

Despite Santa Clara’s narrative that it is pro-small businesses, he said the city has saddled the business with more than $35,000 in permitting fees. 

“It is amazing how much the city has extracted from us,” he said.

Adding to the complications, ASoNY was only able to secure a five-year lease. That means the co-op is taking on a hefty financial burden with no long-term assurance that the business will remain in Santa Clara.

Despite the cost and uncertainty, Vartan said investing in the Santa Clara location felt right.

“I see the bills. I see what’s coming. I know what is coming. It is a scary, scary thing,” Vartan said.

Celebrating 20 years on Sept. 19, ASoNY plans to have the remodel completed in time for the FIFA World Cup, coming to Levi’s Stadium this summer. 

Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com