Extra Toppings
Rockstone Pizza Completes Renovations Ahead of 10-Year Anniversary
Writer / Noah Alatza
Photographer / Travis Hinkle
Sahms opened in 1986 when Allisonville Road was gravel. Now, decades later, a staple of the Fishers culinary landscape is looking to highlight their operations, as the family-owned business plans additional investments in their Fishers restaurants.
The Sahms Hospitality Group family of establishments features 13 restaurants including Rockstone Pizza and Big Lug Taproom, located at Allisonville Road and 116th Street.
Chief Operating Officer and Creative Director Eddie Sahm says Rockstone and Big Lug both opened in early 2013, and as they approach the 10th anniversary, the staff members wanted to do something to celebrate the milestone.
We are part of the community for the long run, and we are coming out of the intensity of COVID where there was not really a lot of dining in, he says. As a pizza place, 95% of our business is carry-out, which makes sense, but we want people to know we are open and come in and celebrate in-house. We pride ourselves on having a clean, fun and easy-to-dine experience.
Sahm says renovations are complete, and the establishment now incorporates a new spirits and cocktail program made by their in-house mixologist, Steve Simon.
We have extended the bar and added 40 seats so we can fit larger parties, Sahm says. We have also added more TVs so our guests can watch sports, and with Indy hosting so many events, we wanted to give it more of a stay-and-hang-out vibe.
Other upgrades include new artwork, murals, and a fresh coat of paint. The bar has been renovated to include on-tap cocktails. The new additions will allow for fresh drinks and different types of spirits, including on-tap sangria cocktails among others.
We are going to collaborate with Big Lug Brewing Company and have a taproom of our beer at good sizes, Sahm says. There are all types of options and we will have 20 Big Lug taps available. This partnership is an extension of our brewing and really a new destination for Fishers. We wanted this to be like someones bar as it takes on new life. This is a new element to the community and another place to see whats going on, so this is really setting the bar for us as we move forward with a new look and vibe, with the same great food.
Sahm says the community has always supported the restaurant, and the staff feels like they owe it to people to provide fresh food in a fun and safe atmosphere.
We have had so much equity built up by doing initiatives through churches, athletic programs and even city officials, to see the vision of Fishers growth and how we can contribute to that, Sahm says. We have always put the city and its people first, and for us that means supporting the community in any way we can.
Sahm says the restaurant lives by the following motto: Feeding the community.
We want to give back to all these places that have supported us, and we want to show them that we are still here and that we are going to invest in ourselves and the community, now and in the future, he says.
The restaurant empire was originally founded by Sahms father, Ed Sahm.
This is really a testament to my fathers goal of feeding people and bringing them together, Sahm says. We are totally family owned and operated, and family owned means we care more. There is that assurance of quality that if you dont like it, theres a family that will answer that, and we are here and accountable.
For more info, explore sahms.com.
