Former Razorback Now Tackling Pizza Industry

Zac Painter is trading pints and pina coladas for pasta and pies.

Painter, a former University of Arkansas football player who previously owned Z330, a bar near Dickson Street, is set to open Z’s Brick Oven Pizza sometime this month. As of press time, Z’s target open date was Feb. 6, with a grand opening tentatively planned for Feb. 15.

“I always had an interest in having a pizza place … and I saw a need in this market for brick-oven pizzas,” Painter said. “We’re not trying to re-invent the wheel, but we’ll do it a little bit different.”

Primarily that means using Neapolitan-style, hand-kneaded dough and the freshest ingredients possible.

“We’re striving to get away from taking something out of a package, putting it on your pizza and giving it to you,” operating partner Jared Lowrey said.

Painter said Z’s will serve beer and wine, as well as appetizers, sub sandwiches and a few pasta dishes.

“We don’t want to make it too complicated,” he said. “We want to be really good at what we do.”

Z’s is in the former home of Tim’s Pizza on College Avenue in Fayetteville, but Painter said it has undergone an extensive renovation. That includes new floors, lighting, booths, flat-screen TVs and bathroom upgrades.

Z’s will have seating for about 70, and employ about 20. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Sunday, when it will be open from noon to 9 p.m.