Another day, another pizza joint popping up on The Drive.
But this one’s got legacy baked into the crust.
We recently spotted signs for Nicli Pronto quietly sliding into the old Artisan Bake Shoppe space along Commercial Drive, just a few steps from Downlow Chicken Shack.
Workers were busy transforming the unit, and from the looks of things, they’re nearly ready to open.
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because Nicli isn’t new to the pizza party.
This award-winning Neapolitan-style pizzeria has been slinging pies since 2011 and pays homage to four generations of Nicli family tradition.
Think proper Italian pizza—thin, blistered crusts, top-tier ingredients, and the kind of tomato sauce that probably makes your nonna weep tears of joy.
But if you’ve been around long enough, you might remember their Gastown location (was taken over by Gastronomy), or that little stint inside Chinatown SkyTrain Station.
These days, they’re holding things down at UBC and North Vancouver.
And now they’re bringing their pizzas to The Drive.
Interestingly, Google has this new Commercial Drive spot listed as Nicli Commissary, so it’s possible we’re looking at more than just another sit-down pizzeria.
Could be a slice counter, a prep hub, or something more grab-and-go focused.
However, due to the size of the unit, I don’t expect it to be like their North Vancouver or UBC outposts.
Either way, it’s likely a strategic move as The Drive is already a hotbed of pizza spots, so it’s not exactly low-stakes competition.
From our peek, the spot looked about 85% done, so it might be opening sometime this month.
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Address: 935 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3W8