‘I was sad’ says Jabee about closing Eastside Pizza House

-- Unique pizza spot on historic Eastside to close at end of September

OKLAHOMA CITY — Low sales and a tough autumn season spelled the end — at least temporarily — for Eastside Pizza House, said co-owner Jabee Williams.

In a post on its social media channel Eastside Pizza House announced it was closing at the end of September after two years in business. 

Jabee
Jabee Williams. (B. DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

Williams, a well-known rap and hip-hop artist and community activist, opened the business on Northeast 23rd Street in February of 2022 where its signature item is pizza served on a black, charcoal-infused crust. 

The menu is something of a history lesson on influential neighborhoods and Black Oklahomans with pizzas named for civil rights activist Clara Luper, musician Jimmy Rushing, author Ralph Ellison, and historic housing addition Garden Oaks, located behind the restaurant. 

“It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the closure of our Eastside Pizza House at the end of September,” the social media post said. “We started this journey with a vision: to create a space for our community, a place where Eastside could gather, connect, and call its own.”

The post mentions how difficult the past few years have been, especially financially, with reduced traffic in the area keeping sales low. 

Williams said one problem is that people don’t think about the area as a dining destination.

“There’s not really much traffic over there [on Northeast 23rd Street]. People aren’t just walking up, wanting to go eat. They don’t think about the Eastside like that, yet,” he told Free Press. “We did events, collabs with chefs, and it would be good for a few days and then go back down.”

Juneteenth
The crowd fills NE 23rd St. closed to car traffic for Juneteenth on the East 2021 (BRETT DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

Northeast 23rd Street has been something of a food desert over the last decade as grocery stores and both locally owned and chain restaurants closed, but some area businesses are still going strong, including Carican Flavors, Florence’s Restaurant—winner of a James Beard Foundation American Classics Award—and another Williams-co-owned breakfast and brunch spot, Scrambl’d.

“Scrambl’d is still doing well, which is great, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the experience of Eastside Pizza first,” he said.

The pizza restaurant required nearly $1,500 a day in sales to continue, but wouldn’t bring in much more than half that much even on its busiest days, he said. 

“We just ran out of rope,” he said. “Community-wise, we did what we wanted to do and we held out as long as we could.”

Acknowledging the problem and scheduling the closing at the end of the month will at least give employees a chance to find new jobs in the interim, Williams said. 

“I was sad. It was difficult to tell the employees

Jabee Williams about closing Eastside Pizza House

“I was sad. It was difficult to tell the employees,” he said. “It was my baby. But God is good to me. I’ve got so many other things going on. That’s not the end for me.”

And it might not be the end for the brand, either. Williams said he’s hoping they can keep the concept alive through pop-up shops, collaborations, and possibly even selling take-and-bake pizzas at the nearby Market at EastPoint.

“Maybe if things move a little better, we could find a chance to open again,” he said.

Williams encourages Eastside fans to visit the restaurant through September 30, which will be the current location’s last day.


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Long-time food enjoyer Greg Elwell writes about food, restaurants, and trends. He has his own blog "I Ate Oklahoma" and has written for The Oklahoman, The Oklahoma Gazette, and others.