Venice Pizza, the Dorchester Avenue pizza spot that had been closed since early 2019, has reopened its doors under new ownership. The Savin Hill staple that amassed a loyal following over the course of 40 years in business in the neighborhood will retain its name and its status as a pizza joint, but diehard supporters shouldn’t expect more of the same. 

Gone are the days of calzones and spicy fries: Venice Pizza’s new operators — the Winner Brothers — have updated both the menu and the interior of the eatery, hoping to wow patrons with “made from scratch, quality food.”

On the menu —smartly projected onto the wall inside — an array of gourmet pizzas, subs, and salads complement some classic favorites like mozzarella sticks, pepperoni poppers, and garlic knots.

Inside, a facelift has spruced up the walls, cashier window, and light fixtures, while a new sign made to look like the old one sits atop the roof.

With that balance of new and old, restaurateur Josh Winer is aiming to craft a vibe that will “respect the past” while also bringing more focus to the “culinary experience. It’s easy to make pizza, it’s hard to make good pizza,” said Winer. “The focus here will be on quality and freshness – handmade everything.”

Restaurateur Josh Winer helms the new-look Venice Pizza in Savin Hill, which reopened on April 26 with an updated interior and a revamped menu. Dan Sheehan photo

A Savin Hill resident, Winer learned some of the basics of pizza-making and hospitality working as general manager alongside his brother, Chef Todd Winer, at Pastoral Artisan Pizza in Fort Point. Chef Todd will play an advisory role at Venice, prepping ingredients and overseeing kitchen operations. Those kinds of details, his brother said, will set Venice’s food apart from the competitors.

Since officially opening on April 24, Venice has been take-out only. As the pandemic winds down, Winer expects to add some windowsill seating and is in the process of setting up an in-house delivery service, similar to Domino’s, that would offer speedy online ordering and order tracking.

The property is owned and managed by The Broadway Company, a Boston-based real estate investment company active in South Boston and Dorchester. In a press release, founder and principal Jason Weissman noted that “Dot Ave has experienced a cultural resurgence over the past ten years. Venice Pizza will be the ideal venue to serve and bridge the old school community with the many new professionals moving to Dorchester every day.”

Winer, who took a chance and made a phone call after walking by Savin Hill Ave. and seeing a “for rent” sign, said he’s excited to fulfill his dream of owning a sub shop. But he’s also aware of how much locals cherish their traditions, adding that he wants Venice to remain a welcoming place for everyone.

“We’re here for the neighborhood,” he said. “We want to keep it approachable.”