Rockstone pizzeria opens downtown, with Nora locale coming

Sahm’s Tavern at 433 N. Capitol Ave. has some company from a family member.

Ed Sahm, the owner of the local chain of Sahm's eateries, on Thursday opened a Rockstone Pizzeria & Pub next to the downtown location in the historic Gibson Building.

For Sahm, the newest Rockstone is the second iteration of his original restaurant concept. The first opened early last year at 11501 Allisonville Road in Fishers.

Rockstone prides itself on wood-fired pizzas and other specialty items. The menu includes soups, salads and sandwiches.

Two Rockstone locations apparently aren’t enough for Sahm. Another is under construction in Nora and set to open sometime in September, according to the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Property Lines reported in August that Sahm is converting half the space at 1435 E. 86th St. into a microbrewery to be called Big Lug Brewery, with the northern portion operating as a Rockstone. He also hopes to have a beer garden fronting the Monon Trail.

Northside residents might recognize the address as the former Snooty Fox, which closed after a 29-year run in October 2011, despite efforts by a cable television show to revitalize the English-style pub.

Owner Tim Queisser attempted to reverse a trend of declining sales by agreeing to a makeover by the Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible" show with TV chef Robert Irvine. But the restaurant couldn’t maintain the short-term boost it received from the show.