Two Columbus staples are coming together this summer in a pairing that makes a lot of sense: craft beer and Columbus-style pizza.
Gatto’s Pizza is opening a second location inside Hoof Hearted Brewing, bringing classic Columbus-style pizza to the brewery’s Short North-area taproom.
For Gatto’s, the expansion marks a major milestone for one of Clintonville’s oldest pizza shops. The restaurant’s roots in Columbus go back more than 70 years, when brothers Joe and Jimmy Gatto opened the original pizzeria on North High Street in 1952. Over the decades, the family-run spot built a loyal following around thin-crust pizzas, homemade sauces, meatballs, Italian sausage, and the kind of neighborhood pizza shop atmosphere that feels increasingly rare.
The restaurant now operates out of Indianola Avenue, where owner Tony DeRubertis took over in 2019.
Since then, the goal has been to expand the brand while keeping the old-school feel that longtime customers know and love.
The new location inside Hoof Hearted will offer a menu built around pizza, salads, subs, wings, and pasta, with room to experiment as the partnership gets underway. Customers can also expect carryout service and walk-up ordering, plus a small patio space connected to the brewery.
For Hoof Hearted, the collaboration gives the brewery a more permanent food option after rotating through a lineup of visiting food trucks since opening its Columbus taproom in 2024.
The brewery itself has developed a strong following across Ohio over the last decade thanks to its hazy IPAs, bold branding, and irreverent beer names.
Originally founded in Marengo, Ohio, Hoof Hearted expanded from a small brewing operation into one of the state’s best-known craft beer brands, eventually opening taprooms in both Columbus and Cleveland.
Now, the two businesses are bringing their fan bases together under one roof.
The partnership also extends beyond the taproom. Hoof Hearted beers are now available at Gatto’s Clintonville location, adding another crossover between the two local brands.
An official opening date hasn’t been announced yet, but the new pizza-and-beer setup is expected to open in June.
