Pizza Amore, the wood-fired pizza trailer that’s rapidly become popular in the local food truck scene, has officially opened a brick-and-mortar (stationary) restaurant in Grand Island.

After meeting plaza owner Fran Barone of Cambria Contracting Inc. at Black Willow Winery last summer, the Pizza Amore pizza impressed Barone so much that he quickly chose to offer the Perri family a permanent vending location to accompany their mobile pizza trailer.

Located at 2024 Grand Island Blvd.—in a plaza that also includes Dunkin’ Donuts and a Sunoco gas station—Diana and Dave Perri have expanded their mobile outlet into a seven-days-per-week business with an expanded menu. Full-size pizzas are available in addition to the typical “personal” version vended from the mobile unit.

The Perris opened Pizza Amore in a soft launch on Saturday at 5 p.m., and as a result of curious tourists or hungry folks buying gas, the business “did very well,” said a surprised David Perri.

Hours on Sunday through Thursday are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but Dave Perri expects the restaurant to stay open later on Fridays and Saturdays—“10 or 11,” he thought. Many of his employees are family members—the “rock star crew” includes Perri’s four children, uncle, his mother-in-law, several ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends of his kids. Follow the Pizza Amore Twitter account (@mobilewoodfire) for updates and potentially tid-bits about the rock star crew.

Pizza Amore offers both dine-in and takeout options, and a look at the business’ catering menu gives insight into the new location’s options. From prosciutto and arugula to spinach and ricotta to a dessert pizza like Nutella and banana, the choices are fresh and imaginative. Perri mentioned more edgy options like “cheeseburger and fries” pizza, as well as a steak and cheese option, before describing the menu as five times greater at the restaurant than the trailer. The tomato sauce is certainly strong in its red pepper flavor, so be prepared for a little extra bite.

The new restaurant is not without refreshing dessert options, as Pizza Amore serves Sweet Melody’s artisan-crafted gelato and sorbet. David Perri plans to have at least 12 flavors available, weighted more heavily toward gelato. You can see the freezer case on the left in the photo below. Sweet Melody’s is located at 8485 Transit Road in East Amherst.

“We’ve given away a few small samples of the gelato,” Perri said, “and the customers have usually bought it once they’ve had a taste.”

After initially just serving every other Wednesday outside the First Niagara Center, Pizza Amore has upped its frequency in Buffalo with regular stops at the Larkin District and special events like the Buffalo River Fest and the Corporate Challenge. Here’s our report from the April 19 stop outside the First Niagara Center.

The Perri family will continue to operate the truck in addition to the brick-and-mortar restaurant. Expect to see them at the Italian Festival July 12 through 15, the Niagara Falls Italian Festival and the Erie County Fair, among other major local events.

Here’s a photo of the new restaurant from Pizza Amore’s Facebook page: