A Sarasota craft taco spot recently rebranded as a restaurant serving another favorite comfort food: pizza.
VCo Pizzeria is now open at 3080 Fruitville Commons Blvd. Unit 100 in the former space of Irma’s Tacos, Craft Beer and Tequila Bar, which opened there in October 2023. The original Irma’s Tacos in Wellen Park, which opened in 2020, is set to stay with its current concept.
Managing partner Tommy Villani, also proprietor of Irma’s Tacos and fellow Wellen Park restaurant Villani & Co. Steaks Seafood Raw Bar, said they decided to rebrand the Fruitville Commons Irma’s Tacos because “we didn’t quite grab the traction that we had down in Wellen Park,” an issue he thinks could be partially attributed to the area’s demographics.
“We see a lot of families, a lot more millennials,” Villani said of Fruitville Commons, “and we felt like going the route of delivery for pizza, this option and also maybe a little bit more family-friendly and affordable options, could be highly beneficial to what we see in the area.”
What food and drink does VCo Pizzeria serve?
Calling itself a “Bronx-style eatery,” where Villani’s parents are from, VCo Pizzeria serves 12 or 16-inch pies with a New York-style crust where customers can choose from a selection of specialty pizzas or build their own, with toppings ranging from the traditional to vegan cheese and Italian sausage or gluten-free crust options. The menu also includes calzone and stromboli, heroes, pasta dishes, salads, wings and appetizers.
The bar menu features a selection of specialty cocktails, wine, and draft or bottled beer — with the draft options mainly domestic, though it does also include Tasty Pig IPA from Venice’s 3 Bridges Brewing. Villani was formerly the proprietor of Off the Wagon in Venice, which once housed 3 Bridges Brewing before the brewery opened its own location. Coffee, soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages are available as well.
VCo will be open daily for lunch and dinner. For more information, call 941-217-6594 or visit facebook.com/vcopizza.
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota craft taco restaurant rebrands as pizza eatery
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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By Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
