February 14, 2023 – It would be newsworthy enough that cult hit Heirloom Pizza is adding a Salinas location at the center of Oldtown.
But it gets newsier from there: Not only will they install a pizza spot at 344 Main St. in the former Beverly’s Fabrics, they’ll also build out some surprising additional elements.
The ample footprint—almost 12,000 square feet—will also contain: a tropical-leaning bar, tentatively called Sneaky Tiki; a concert stage designed to draw touring acts looking for a stop between San Francisco and points south; and a banquet hall to host local groups and events.
Heirloom co-owner-operator-pizza master Michael Foley and his partner in life and pizza pies, Kristen Wood, originally visited the Taylor Farms-owned space planning to occupy around 2,500 square feet. That would represent a larger spot than their original pizzeria at 700 Cass St. in Monterey.
Then Steve Ish, who manages special projects for Taylor Fresh Foods, asked if they’d consider plans for the entire building, and pledged to help with build out.
Foley describes an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.
“They rolled out the red carpet for us,” he says, “and made an offer we couldn’t refuse.”
“They had a greater vision,” Ish says. “I’m very excited with what they have planned—not only food but great entertainment focused around family.”
“You walk through doors that open,” Wood adds. “Mr. Taylor and Mr. Ish have given us this opportunity to bring our life skills and passion to work. That’s the story: Now we’re in this crazy business.”
Those passions include live music, fruity rum drinks and community-centric spaces.
Foley, a self-identified Dead Head—“The Grateful Dead brought me to California,” he says—once played in a Santa Cruz-based band.
“I’ve been wanting to build a live music venue,” Foley says. “I believe Monterey Bay is underserved when it comes to cool [performance] joints to hang out in. We’re going to do something for everybody.”
The tiki tendency comes from time spent at San Francisco destination Smuggler’s Cove and their own home bar, though they’ll have to acquire a liquor license, and plan on completing the downstairs restaurant and stage area first.
“The decor isn’t going to come close to the Disneyland feel [at Smuggler’s], but will be elegant and upscale—we’re going more jungle than underwater,” Foley says. “Whatever we do, we’re going to do the best version of it that we can.”
Meanwhile, Wood is channeling her upbringing at Silver Spur Camp in Tuolumne County, California, to envision an upstairs 125-person-capacity multipurpose banquet hall for civic groups, family gatherings and end-of-life ceremonies.
“I just want to create a nice, comfortable space for services, groups and families,” she says.
The formula for the restaurant will stick to what’s worked well in Monterey and earned it a spot on Edible Monterey Bay’s Top Restaurants of the Decade. That includes snappy appetizers, creative salads and deep-dish wonders like the namesake Heirloom with spinach, bacon, mushrooms, onions, garlic, ricotta and gorgonzola.
But it will also feature the addition of some soups, Chicago hot dogs and sandwiches like a goat-cheese pesto, a meatball sub and a “Napoli” with uncured pepperoni and salami, Kalamata olives, onion, pepperoncini and asiago.
People apprised of the project have been almost as giddy as the partners behind it.
“The response has been very positive,” Foley says. “Everyone’s excited for the revitalization of Oldtown. We’re just happy and privileged to be a part of it.”
Taylor Farms, with its relatively new headquarters on the 100 block, has been central to that rebirth. Up next for its properties is filling the 6,500-square-feet ground floor at brand new 300 Main, where the Dick Bruhn building once stood.
In talking with Edible, Ish’s closing thought comes in reference to Heirloom, due to debut in June, but applies to any number of recent projects.
“It’s another piece of the puzzle as far as getting downtown back to the way it used to be,” he says. “Things are popping to be honest. Everybody is excited to come back to Oldtown Salinas.”
More at heirloompizzapie.com.
About the author
Mark C. Anderson, Edible Monterey Bay's managing editor, appears on "Friday Found Treasures" via KRML 94.7 every week, a little after 12pm noon. Reach him via mark@ediblemontereybay.com.
