the queen of our hearts
Montrose pizzeria known for '90s vibes and late night hours suddenly shutters
The Hamburglar has gone away, at least for now.
A staple Montrose pizzeria has served its last pie. Love Buzz Pizza Pub is closed effectively immediately, the restaurant announced on social media.
Open since 2016, Love Buzz has earned a devoted following for its creative pizzas, potent cocktails, and ‘90s-inspired decor. Open daily until 2 am, fan favorites include the breakfast-inspired Wake and Bake (bacon, sunny-side-up eggs, hash browns, etc.), the Hamburglar (ground beef, bacon, cheese, pickles, onions, and mustard), and the Kona Gold, the restaurant’s take on a Hawaiian. Its meatball sub had a cult following.
Owner Sam English tells CultureMap the restaurant had faced a number of challenges in recent months, including an electrical fire, rising costs, and increased competition as more pizzerias opened in Montrose and Midtown. Add the location’s lack of parking, especially compared to its newer peers, and he realized the time had come to move on.
“In Montrose, it’s not as much mom-and-pop stuff anymore. We’ve been overtaken by national and regional concepts,” English says. “I’ve had to raise my prices three or four times since the pandemic. It comes to a point where you’re selling a $30 pizza. It becomes unreasonable.”
Despite those challenges — plus operating as a sole proprietor — English has made Love Buzz a success. He says he would like to find a business partner or investor who could help Love Buzz get a fresh start in a neighborhood like Spring Branch that’s more welcoming for independent operators.
“I’d always be open to doing another one under the right circumstances. I think it has potential,” he says. “We need something at my level. There’s a lot of bougie pizzerias out there. I like that Love Buzz is accessible. That’s our whole thing.”
The last few days have been difficult, but English says he’s been heartened by reading comments on social media about the closure. An Instagram post announcing the news generated over 100 comments in the first hour alone, and even the curmudgeons on reddit are disappointed by the shuttering.
“I was in tears reading the comments. I wasn’t expecting such a positive response. People are heartbroken,” he says.
