By John Ferrannini

Golden Boy Pizza, a popular North Beach neighborhood pizzeria known for its square slices of focaccia bread pizza, will be opening a new location at 1447 Taraval St. in the Sunset District.

The eatery will be coming to the Parkside neighborhood as early as mid-March, according to Julian Sodini, son of founder Peter Sodini.

The new location is in the former location of Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream, which will be relocating to 3886 Noriega St. in the spring.

“When my father (Peter) was head of the ship, when I was a kid, he expanded out to five or six locations, but we ended up returning back to the one (in North Beach),” Sodini said. “Now, we’re trying to expand again. Hopefully we can make this time stick.”

Sodini said he heard that pizza aficionados on San Francisco’s west side were making the trek to North Beach just for slices of the so-called ‘Sanfrancilian-style’ pie (Sicilian-style pizza is typically square).

“People came downtown just for our pizza,” he said. “So, people now don’t have to make that journey.”

Despite previous misfires, Sodini said the desire for expansion hasn’t faded.

“We’ve always been on the hunt. Of course, it has to be the right fit,” he said. “There’s the opportunity at the right time,” he added.

Golden Boy Pizza does have one other location, in San Mateo, which opened around 2016.

Sodini said the goal is not to “replace the North Beach location.”

“The Sunset, the Parkside, the west side of the City has always had a good feeling for us,” Sodini said. “We’re excited to be part of the neighborhood. It’s shaping up to be a renaissance over there.”

The pizzeria had been considering a new location in downtown San Jose, with hopes it could serve as a late-night food option for the South Bay city’s busy nightlife scene.

“We were going to open up in San Jose – part ghost kitchen, part take-out window,” Sodini said. “It ended up not working out and, as we were pulling out of that, the Taraval location opened up late last year.”

The new location will probably not have an inside seating option, at least not initially, though Sodini said he hopes a parklet can be built to accommodate sitting outside.

The City announced new rules for restaurant parklets last year: Business owners have to pay $2,000 per year for each parking spot a parklet takes away from drivers. More safety measures were also implemented for the program.

Sodini said that he’s eyeing mimicking the North Beach location’s opening time.

“I don’t know how late people are out in the Parkside district, but for now, 11-11:30 a.m, and close 8:30-9 p.m. We may push Friday-Saturday a little later, but the general wheelhouse will be 11 a.m.-9 p.m. every day.”

Sodini said no one is actually “the boss.” Sodini and his siblings manage and run the North Beach location.

“It’s a family business,” he said. “We’re all partners. I’m the eldest brother, so I have the most tenure. I guess you could say I’m leading the charge, but we all have a hand in it.”

Golden Boy Pizza first opened in 1978. Its North Beach location at 542 Green St., near several iconic San Francisco watering holes, is a favorite of tourists and locals alike and there are often long lines. The San Mateo location is at 1119 North Amphlett Blvd., by the Coyote Point Recreation Area.

The pies come in pepperoni, sausage, cheese, combo, vegetable pesto, and clam and garlic, starting at $3.50 a slice.

Those interested in working at the new Golden Boy Pizza location can send their resumes to taravalsf@goldenboypizza.com. Sodini is hoping to open up in mid-March, but it could be as late as April.

Learn more about Golden Boy Pizza at goldenboypizza.com/sanfrancisco.php.