By: Alyssa Ochss | St. Clair Shores Sentinel | Published July 31, 2024
ST. CLAIR SHORES — In a 7-0 vote at the St. Clair Shores City Council meeting on July 15, a site plan was approved for exterior renovations at the former Pizza Hut restaurant located at 24200 Harper Avenue.
John Vitale, CEO and president of Stucky Vitale Architects, presented the item and said he represented the developer who has a new tenant for the old Pizza Hut lot. John Vitale said they plan to remove the entire roof of the building and rebuild it with a new material and facade.
“Kind of creating more of an upscale look, you know, getting rid of that Pizza Hut form is what we’re trying to do,” he said.
He also said they are proposing a patio on Harper.
“We are excited to see this tenant, it’s a national tenant,” John Vitale said. “Unfortunately, I can’t reveal the exact tenant, but (it will be a) Mexican-style restaurant, probably, from what I understand.”
Councilman Ronald Frederick said when he visited the development, it looked like the patio was far enough away from the sidewalk and traffic on Harper, which is something the St. Clair Shores Planning Commission had concerns about.
“I’m hoping that you guys are going to clean up the parking lot a little bit, and of course the landscaping and all that,” Frederick said.
John Vitale confirmed that they are going to clean up the parking lot and the landscaping.
Frederick continued to ask if the patio is going to have an access door from the inside, which John confirmed.
“There is a window in front, but part of that window system will include a new door,” John Vitale said.
Frederick moved to support the approval.
“This is great,” Frederick said. “Excited about it.”
Mayor Pro Tem and Councilwoman Canidce Rusie asked about the time frame and hopeful target opening date for the restaurant.
“My understanding is that they’re probably going to start construction after everything is finalized and be complete by spring,” John Vitale said.
Councilman Chris Vitale, who is of no relation to John, said he is glad to see the building getting a new life. He also mentioned a website that documents buildings that used to be a Pizza Hut.
“Because the roof lines are so distinctive, and no one ever has the money to take down the roofline,” Chris said. “So it’s good to see that ours probably won’t be on that blog anytime soon. So good luck with that.”
Councilman Dave Rubello reminded John Vitale to keep in mind the residents who live behind the building when it comes to any lighting they may have. John Vitale said they plan to test that.
Chris Vitale also reminded residents and council members that they turned down a rezoning request for a car wash at that site two years ago.
“Took some heat for it, but I think in the end we made the right decision,” he said.
Mayor Kip Walby agreed.
“I don’t think there’s any question about that,” Walby said. “This is a home run.”