A Throwback: Washington Square Pizza pays homage to the area’s O.G. nickname

By Jessica Koslow, Playa Vista Contributing Writer

Tima Bell was born in New York City and raised part-time in Venice Beach. Growing up, the Venice locals referred to the last block of Washington Boulevard, which has always been a lively area peppered with restaurants and shops, as Washington Square. About two years ago, when the space on the block between Doobi’s Smoke Shop and Fat Sal’s Deli became vacant, Bell began hatching a plan to bring New York-style pizza to his beloved beach community.

“You can’t get a good New York-style slice of pizza anywhere on the Westside, so that was part of the driver and also something we’re very passionate about,” said Bell’s partner, Alessandro Nicolaci of Playbook Advisors, about opening this new venture, Washington Square Pizza, at the beach.

“We thought, what can we do that is family friendly and helps us build the community of Washington Boulevard, aka Washington Square, back up?” Nicolaci and Playbook Advisors will handle the operations of Washington Square Pizza, which will open to the public on June 26.

Bell, who serves as secretary on the Venice Neighborhood Council Board of Officers, aims to pay homage and aid in revitalizing what was once called Washington Square. Bell and Nicolaci have worked together previously, so when Bell asked his colleague to join forces to launch a pizza concept, Nicolaci quickly accepted the proposal.

“We knew New York-style pizza was going to be the jumping-off point, so we invested in a water filter system that matches the mineral reality of New York-style water,” Nicolaci said. “We’re aiming to be a beachside vibes, coastal Californian place that is welcoming to families and also has a cool Venice edge to it.”

Although Sampa’s Pizza serves Brazilian slices nearby and Hotel Erwin’s Pizza Girl sells pies from its window just blocks away, Washington Square Pizza is doing things differently. It offers a 100-seat restaurant with a beer and wine bar.

Bell also had a hand in designing the space. The founder of Bell Design Group and founding partner of Relativity Architects, Bell is the recipient of the Individual Boutique 18 Design Award and the Boutique 18 Design Restaurant Award, presented by Boutique Design magazine.

Washington Square Pizza is in good company with the other eateries on the square such as Nalu Vida, The Cow’s End Café and Hinano Café.

“Washington Square is this hodgepodge of different personalities cohabitating: You’ve got skaters and surfers and bikers and tourists, and it’s kind of like our own little club, so we wanted to build a concept where you can invite everybody,” said Nicolaci. “It’s got that even keel conceptual comfort level that everyone can come in and just be at home.” Nicolaci and Playbook Advisors were responsible for the popular First & Last Club, a supper club in downtown LA, and acted as a consultant or operating partner for B&T’s Deli in Santa Monica and Bonsai Coffee & Bar in West LA.

Washington Square Pizza plans to stick to the classics, which means no thick crust.

Nicolaci explained: “Our vibe is a strong New York style by the slice or pies like margarita or pepperoni. We are doing one cool special that pays tribute to a previous business that was here before called the Cheese & Olive Cafe, so we’re making a cheese and olive pizza to say, ‘Hey, thanks for carving the way. We’re going take the reins from here and try to build this area back up.’”

Washington Square Pizza
31 Washington Boulevard, Marina del Rey
310-439-1229