Pizza is back in Olde Towne East as Mikey’s Late Night slice starts slinging pies in the former home of Yellow Brick Pizza at 892 Oak St.
Owner Mikey Sorboro says to expect a more neighborhood slice shop kind of feel for the latest iteration of LNS, as opposed to the late-night party vibe of some of the brand’s other spots.
Whether quiet vibe or party vibe, one thing remains the same: the Mikey’s menu. There are slices, whole pies and a smattering of other eats: wings (boneless, bone-in, or vegan), garlicky breadsticks, pepperoni chips and more.
In the drinks department there are eight drafts, seven for beer, one for a very on-brand cocktail dubbed Unicorn Punch with Tito’s and edible glitter. Jello shots, boozy cotton candy and (technically) shareable drinks round things out.
The Olde Towne East spot will introduce a kiosk ordering system, a process Sorboro sees having a future at fast-casual spots like theirs as it helps reduce the number of employees needed in a difficult labor market.
There’s plenty to see in the new space with wall-spanning murals by local artist Christopher Cropper, plus some vintage flair courtesy of an under-restoration 1930s Bevador and an old cigarette machine that will be repurposed into a sauce dispenser.
Mikey’s is currently in its soft opening stage, with a grand opening celebration slated for Friday, April 8. The pizza shop opens at 4 p.m. daily, with plans to extend hours from 11 a.m. to 3 or 4 a.m. in the next month or so.
Also still in the works are Mikey’s patio space and a themed bar concept that will make use of the upper floor of the building. Plans are coming together for that space, which Sorboro says will be its own separate entity like the Sacred Palm within their High Street location, and it should open later this summer.
Olde Towne East will be the seventh location in the Mikey’s empire, which also includes booze & pizza joints in Short North, Downtown and Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, as well as setups inside Woodlands Backyard in Grandview and the Hollywood Casino on the West Side. Fans can also find pizza only at their Short North spot next to Oddfellow’s.
For more information, visit latenightslice.com.
All photos by Susan Post