Pizza Riviera relocates Hermit Park store with dine in, express pick up, and function space

Pizza Riviera will soon open a new ‘superstore’ with several new features including outdoor dining, express pick up lane, function room, and arcade. See where it is.

Pizza Riveria Relocates With New Superstore. Director Harry Crawford and operations manager Julz Schmidt. Picture: Evan Morgan

After 35 productive years of winning the hearts of Townsville’s pizza lovers and taking out multiple best pizza competitions, the next exciting chapter is about to begin for Pizza Riviera at its new Hermit Park “superstore”.

More than a million dollars has been spent transforming a former-tyre shop at 270 Charters Towers Rd into Pizza Riviera’s new Hermit Park store – which will relocate a couple of hundred metres from its original location at 192 Charters Towers Rd.

Expected to open in early December, the superstore will feature a modern pizza shop, licensed outdoor dining, function space, arcade room, and an express pick-up lane.

Leading the business’ expansion into the larger premises is Pizza Rivieria managing director Harry Crawford, who took over the business from its retiring former-owner Frank Guglielmino in early 2023.

The founder and owner of Townsville’s popular The Spirited Goat restaurants, Mr Crawford spent several months learning from Mr Guglielmino during the transition phase, absorbing the traditional techniques that resonate so strongly with the city’s diners.

Frank Guglielmino has retired from Pizza Riviera.

Harry Crawford built up a foodie following with the Spirited Goat. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Over the last 18 months, we’ve tried to continue that legacy of Pizza Riviera. It’s such an important brand in food scene in Townsville, and we’re proud it’s ours, but it’s also something that we want to continue in the same way that it’s always been,

“We were so excited when we stumbled across the opportunity at 270 Charters Towers Road, which is the new property we nicknamed the Super Pizza Riviera store,” Mr Crawford said.

Pizza Riviera has been crafting pizza and pasta for over 35 years — no quick fixes, no fast gimmicks, just well-made food that speaks for itself. Picture: Supplied.

Pizza Riviera's tasty pizzas emerge from the oven. Picture: Supplied.

“(The former tyre shop’s) got its quirkiness. I’m an 80s child and grew up with Pizza Huts and dining in … they’ve all disappeared, so to be able to bring that back again is really cool.

“It not only has a modern, much more efficient and nicer pizza shop side, but it also has a second building on the site which is going to have a small outdoor dining area, big screen for footy, an event space, and an (airconditioned) arcade room for family entertainment and birthday parties.”

Pizza Riveria Relocates With New Superstore. Picture: Evan Morgan

Pizza Riveria Relocates With New Superstore. Picture: Evan Morgan

The arcade space would include a pool table, air hockey tables, upright retro arcade games, and a couple of TVs to allow families to play console games for free.

Mr Crawford couldn’t wait to fire up the new modern equipment and associated technology being installed in the kitchen, which would allow the store to broaden its delivery area to encompass the bulk of Townsville.

Pasta perfection is always on the menu at Pizza Riviera, made fresh, with sauces that bring all the flavour and none of the fuss. Picture: Supplied.

The property’s unique layout has paved the way for a convenient drive-through express pick-up lane, connecting between Charters Towers Rd and Queens Rd.

“About 50 per cent of our orders are now online. Customers will get an online alert text message that says your order is ready to be picked up, feel free to use the express pick-up lane,” he said.

Pizza Riviera is looking forward to handing over freshly made pizzas at its new store in Hermit Park. Picture: Supplied.

“They’ve ordered, they’ve paid, and the customer pulls up the door and a Pizza Riviera staff member will pop out, asking their name and order number, will grab it, give it to them, and on they go.”

Ahead of their grand opening, the store has begun advertising for delivery drivers and in-store staff.

Pizza Riviera is looking to recruit more delivery drivers. Picture: Supplied.

“We are very proud of being a lot of Townsville young people’s first place of work. We do have a lot of juniors who learn good life skills … and a lot of long term senior staff like our Hermit Park store manager Matthew Brischetto, who’s coming up on eight years,” he said.

“Also, our operations manager Julieanne Schmidt is one of Franks daughters and has continued to be a crucial part of the Pizza Riviera family after his retirement.”

For more information, visit: pizzariviera.com.au.

Sal’s Special at Pizza Riviera with a BBQ sauce base, pulled pork, mushrooms, onions, potato gems, loads of cheese, and BBQ drizzle. Picture: Supplied.

Originally published as Pizza Riviera relocates Hermit Park store with dine in, express pick up, and function space