Chef from Glen Ellyn's fire + wine to open pizza bar in Wheaton

WHEATON – A chef and co-owner from the popular fire + wine restaurant in Glen Ellyn will bring a new pizza bar concept to fill the space left by Genghis Grill.

Chef Brian Goewey said his restaurant, Gia Mia, coming in February to 106 N. Hale St., will feature high-quality pizza made in the classical Neapolitan style found in Italy.

Goewey said he had worked on getting the space in 2009, when he was the chef partner at his future neighbor, Ivy. While he couldn't get a deal done then, his vision for an upscale family friendly restaurant in the Wheaton area still came together.

"My wife and I are two busy professionals," he said. "And there were no concepts that want to deliver great quality unique to this kind of food ... that we can take our kids to and socialize and dine and have a nice experience."

That family focus is evident in the name, he said: Gia is short for Gianna, his daughter.

Goewey said he tried to emphasize a low price point for his menu even with his use of high-quality, artisanal ingredients like its restaurant-made mozzarella cheese and Italian flour.

"I like to put the really classics and unique twists on different Neapolitan, Italian-style pizzas [on the menu]," he said. "It's going to be a specific, driven pizza presence with a nice little Chef Brian twist to it."

At the center of the space will be an imported oven that will run so hot it can cook a pizza in 90 seconds – though Goewey warned that customers wouldn't be getting theirs that fast.

What they will get is an up-close-and-personal look at the construction of their particular pie at a bartop counter encircling the pizza station.

The spectacle, extensive kids menu and the simple fact that it's pizza will cater to children, said Goewey, who added the high quality and extensive alcohol selection will offer something for adults.

Paula Barrington, executive director for the Downtown Wheaton Association, said she sees some "synergy" between the Wheaton and Glen Ellyn communities.

"He has already established the following with fire + wine and the Glen Ellyn market," she said. "I certainly feel like that customer is going to take the time to explore and patronize the Gia Mia restaurant."