New pizza chain files plans to locate along 23rd Street

Perhaps this supposed WikiLeaks about how our smartphones and smart TVs can be turned into spying devices by the CIA isn’t all bad. Now, when I’m sitting on my couch watching reruns of “The Apprentice” and yelling at my TV “where the %@#!! is my delivery pizza?” I expect the courtesy of an answer. Well, I’m not sure that will happen, but it does appear we’ll soon have a new option for delivery pizza.

As I told you yesterday, work is underway to convert vacant space at The Malls shopping center at 23rd and Louisiana into a new business. I’ve now been told that Sarpino’s Pizzeria is locating in the space. A building permit has been filed with the city for a carryout and delivery location for the pizza chain, according to the application on file at City Hall.

If you are not familiar with Sarpino’s, ask your phone. It really does know everything. (For what it’s worth, this phone stuff doesn’t surprise me. I’ve long suspected my phone is smarter than I am. After all, I’m always getting tangled in its cord and my tie frequently gets caught in its rotary dial.)

As for what I know about Sarpino’s, it appears to focus on delivering gourmet-style pizzas in a fast-food type of way. The company’s online menu lists more than 50 gourmet or specialty pizzas, plus the opportunity to build your own creations. In addition to the classic American-inspired combinations, the menu features some other options such as a Grecian Gyros pizza, a Nacho cheese-lovers pizza, Alfredo shrimp pizza, a Dubai Special that prominently features green and black olives, and something called a German Delight, which includes Italian sausage and sauerkraut.

The menu also offers calzones and more than 20 sandwiches ranging from grilled cheese to Italian meatballs to a tropical Hawaiian creation. Also on the menu are chicken wings, salads, pastas, breadsticks and desserts such as cheesecake and tiramisu.

The company, which is prominent in the Chicago area but has about a half-dozen locations in Kansas City, makes a big deal out of its delivery service. The store is open 365 days a year, and it appears that in K.C. most of its shops are open until 3 a.m. on weekends and 2 a.m. on weeknights. But the bigger issue with delivery is that the restaurant has no minimum order requirement. As the company says on its website, if you are craving a single piece of cheesecake in the middle of the night, they’ll deliver it to you.

That could be dangerous. The CIA may have to get a wider screen to watch me.

As for a timeline for opening, I haven’t heard of one yet. It looks like renovation work is still in its early stages at the location.