Just as promised and right on schedule, Pizza Plus opened its doors in a new location on Friday, April 12. Just across Santa Fe Street and a few doors down, next to the Designs By Karen floral shop, the family eatery is now in the former Landon’s Men’s Wear location downtown.

For the so called ‘soft’ opening, pizza patrons were found in abundance on Friday evening, in the much more spacious facility. Just the Monday before, owner Mike Whorton had celebrated the final evening in the old restaurant.

He plans a Grand Opening once all the final touches are completed and every last detail is in place.

That the facility features much more room is quite evident. In addition to more, larger tables for patrons in the main room, there is a separate banquet facility in its own room, where parties and group meetings can be held with a bit of privacy, without interfering with the day to day restaurant business.

There’s even room in the new kitchen for a second oven, when that becomes necessary.

There is only one major monkey wrench in the gears of a smooth transition to the new place; it is expected to be about a month before Pizza Plus can sell beer and wine with its meals. And a brand new 12-tap fixture waits for the domestic and imported beers that will become available when finally permitted.

Judging from last Friday’s turnout, it isn’t interfering so far with Riverbank’s hungry pizza patrons.