Pizza Gallery & Grill Owner Chris Conneen Has Passion For Local Charity, Gourmet Pizza
By Space Coast Daily // April 17, 2017
'Giving back important part of my business'
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Nearly 30 years ago, a unique, gourmet pizza restaurant and art gallery popped up on the Space Coast – Pizza Gallery & Grill.
Started by a family man with a love for cooking, a passion for the local community and an artistic streak, Chris Conneen had a dream to take the traditional pizza parlor to the next level.
Conneen’s dream of being a business owner became reality in 1989 when he opened Pizza Gallery & Grill, in downtown Melbourne and later in The Avenue Viera near I-95 at 2250 Town Center Avenue.
Pizza Gallery & Grill has never been your typical “mom and pop” pizza parlour. With a motto of “Where Food Becomes Art,” the restaurant features a wide variety of truly gourmet pizza creations – each with titles reflecting that of a famous artist, such as the “Warhol” Cheeseburger pizza or the “Raphael” Portobello crust pizza.
And when you enter this 250-seat establishment, you’ll notice something else – a broad collection of whimsical local art displayed on every wall. Each piece is for sale and switched out regularly to bring a fresh, new look to the restaurant.
In addition to promoting local artists’ works, Space Coast native Conneen is also more heavily involved in the community than your average small business owner.
Weekly “Pizza with a Purpose” events dedicate 15 percent of that day’s proceeds to a featured local organization in need.
Conneen and Pizza Gallery have also donated a significant portion of their proceeds over the past 10 years to support many local organizations, including Brevard Public Schools, Youth Athletics, Promise in Brevard, the American Cancer Society, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Pregnancy Resource and Brevard Rescue Mission, just to name a few.
“Giving back to the community is an important part of my business,” said Conneen.
“Supporting these organizations makes a difference in the lives of people right here in Brevard County, and I’m blessed to be a part of that.”
In addition to his regular charitable giving, he also invests in local, aspiring entrepreneurs (some even include former staffers!) to help them get their endeavors off the ground.
With all the charitable giving, community involvement, passion for the arts and incredibly unique menu, there are many reasons to visit Pizza Gallery and Grill. A place where the community comes together, enjoys good food and creates lasting memories.
Pizza Gallery and Grill offers numerous daily and weekly events and specials for local residents, including Tuesday night POP Trivia, a Tuesday through Thursday $6.99 Boomer Buffet, nightly happy hours and live music on the weekends.
The restaurant also serves as a primary sponsor for The Avenue’s new Sunday afternoon Jazz event in Central Park, from 12-3 p.m.
To learn more or see a menu, visit PizzaGalleryandGrill.com or follow the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram.
CLICK HERE FOR SPACE COAST BUSINESS NEWS
ABOVE MAP: Chris Conneen had a dream to take the traditional pizza parlor to the next level, and became reality in 1989 when he opened Pizza Gallery & Grill, located in The Avenue Viera near I-95 at 2250 Town Center Avenue.
