Ali Naser’s Pizza returning
Popular restaurant will again be serving customers once a few details are completed
TRURO, N.S. – Truro pizza maker Ali Naser is set to reopen his restaurant as soon as the paperwork is finalized.
“My life’s back. I want to see my customers back,” said Naser. “Thank you everyone for supporting me, I appreciate that a lot.”
Naser said he is waiting on the province to check his equipment, including the fridge and ovens, before clearing him to reopen the restaurant at 1 Commercial St. He expects to be up and running within a week or so.
His revamped restaurant will include an air exchange unit to keep his kitchen cool, as well as new walls and floors.
Naser closed his restaurant in January 2019 ahead of renovations carried out by building owners Queen’s Realty. In the meantime, he ran a small pizza shop at Truro’s Cougar Dome and spent time with his family and partner Nadia Jardine.
“He’s excited,” said Jardine. “It was a little stressful, but we got through it.”
The building housing Naser’s pizza parlour received a new foundation and its upstairs floors were converted to offices. The renovations were part of a larger plan called The Common Works to spruce up the complex at 1-5 Commercial St. It houses several businesses, including Naser’s restaurant.
The Common Works’s goal was restoring the heritage building to its original look, while-adding 10,000 square ft. of retail space and another 20,000 sqare ft. of office space.
Naser is pleased with his renovated restaurant, saying Queen’s Realty did a “very good job.”
Also pleased is Scott Hartlen, who owns Supplement King. With the building renovations completed, Hartlen’s store moved two doors down and is now next to Ali Naser’s Pizza.
“The upgrades that have been done to the building are amazing for downtown,” said Hartlen. “I think it’s really going to brighten up the downtown core on the west end.”
Hartlen has already relocated his inventory to the new store and is waiting for the new sign, which will be in keeping with the building’s heritage theme.