Trace Biskin will be moving from the field to the kitchen this summer when he helps his father expand the Pizza Studio franchise to the UA campus.

The former offensive guard for the Arizona football team will help manage the new restaurant, which will be housed in the business complex at Park Avenue and Speedway Boulevard and is expected to open in mid-July.

Trace Biskin described the Pizza Studio as a fast-casual eatery that allows customers to be creative with their pizza making. Working in the same spirit as Subway or Chipotle Mexican Grill, customers mosey down a line of fresh vegetables and meats, picking whatever toppings they’d like to place over an 11-inch pizza.
Patrons can choose to spice up their pizza with the signature barbecue sauce, crumbled feta cheese and a sprinkling of chipotle powder, or instead choose the more conservative route with a standard tomato-based sauce and classic parmesan cheese.
After two minutes of cooking time, guests can enjoy their hand-crafted creation for $7.99. The Pizza Studio is developing a reputation as one of the first national franchises with a build-your-own pizza concept.

The franchise was founded in 2012 by Samit Varma and Ron Biskin with the first restaurant in Los Angeles. In just two years, the franchise has expanded to at least 37 new restaurants currently in development, and the one to be operated by Trace Biskin will be the first Pizza Studio location in Tucson.

Ron Biskin, Trace Biskin’s father, has over 25 years of restaurant experience, which includes partnering with Wolfgang Puck to expand his line of restaurants throughout the U.S. and Canada. Trace Biskin is still relatively new to the business, having just graduated with his master’s degree in International Security Studies from the UA in 2013.

Trace Biskin said he really wants his restaurant to be engaged with the UA community. Part of the Pizza Studio brand is the encouragement of local art, so the franchise allows artists to contribute to the restaurant’s art wall. The restaurant also has a special “Starving Artists” menu with discounted, non-customizable pizzas.

For $5.99, patrons can choose from one of five pre-planned pizza recipes, which include a tangy island blend of pineapple and bacon, or the more traditional pepperoni option with mozzarella cheese sprinkled on top.

The general aesthetic of Pizza Studio is one of rustic urbanity. Its red and black color palette evokes an almost industrial feel that may be inviting for radical, young artists looking to display their angst against society.

The Pizza Studio opening at the UA is reportedly one of five new locations expected to open in Tucson over the next three years. Trace Biskin will be overseeing all of Tucson’s Pizza Studios as the chief operating officer.

@KevinReaganUA