Jim Haralambidis — owner of Rize, the newest pizza concept in West Chester — puts as much effort into making sure each customer has a great experience as he does creating a diverse lineup of pizza and more. With several years of food industry experience and a successful two-year-old Broomall Rize location under his belt, Haralambidis has found a home to continue to elevate his dream.
Rize was built from the inside out and is situated on the first floor of the 124 Marketplace complex. Haralambidis takes pride in the interior design (he did a cool, detailed DIY wood burn on pizza display shelves) and is thrilled with four pizza ovens and a much larger kitchen space than the original location.
The ambiance is industrial-chic with Edison lighting, lots of wood and high ceilings with a bistro-height communal table taking center stage. A stunning oversized chalk mural by Haralambidis’ son, George, anchors the space. Hip music, natural light and table service starting at dinner make this a great spot for hanging out with a date, the family or your BFF.
In a college town and county seat where pizza is practically an obsession, “We’ve created something unique at Rize,” explained Haralambidis. “We’re trying to capture a new audience. One that loves pizza, but wants a new, lighter, healthier spin with it.” Rize uses unbromated flour, which means it’s not bleached and has no added chemicals, and “it doesn’t make you feel heavy or lethargic after eating it.” The incredibly light and crispy dough melds with different cheeses and toasted sesame seeds for a perfect bite.
The weekly rotating list of pizzas cradle fresh toppings with local ingredients when possible and includes the following delectable options:
- The Monte Carlo overflows with portabello ‘shrooms, rosemary ham, caramelized onions, in-house mozzarella and fontina with a splash of truffle oil.
- The Southern Belle is a fascinating chicken-and-waffles twist that includes rosemary, fire-roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella, bacon, fried chicken and a drizzle of maple syrup.
- The Venus packs in the veggies with artichoke hearts, baby spinach, red onion, fontina, mozzarella, feta and roasted garlic.
- The Snap Dragon loads spicy sausage, bacon, roasted long hots, mozzarella and smoked gouda on top of the dough.
There are also plenty of vegetarian and/or gluten-free dishes on offer. These include the Upbeat (arugula, beets, pistachios, cranberries and honey goat cheese), Olympus (romaine, artichokes, olives, grape leaves and feta) and the signature Sunrize (romaine with grapefruit, avocado, sliced almonds, bacon and chicken). Rize is also working on introducing additional pasta items and sandwich specials.
Sandwiches are exceptional, with the following fresh selections:
- Chicken Caprese features grilled chicken, mozzarella, roma tomatoes, pesto and baby spinach on rosemary flatbread.
- Olivia has roasted pepper, mozzarella, romaine, tomato, fig balsamic, pesto and tapenade spread.
- Sierra is made with grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce and tomatoes with a roasted tomato and pepper aioli.
Desserts are certainly no afterthought here, with triple chocolate chip cookies, gluten-free brownies and seasonal desserts of the week. We can vouch for the handmade baklava, which is a serious contender for the best in town.
The staff here is friendly, informative and well-versed in creating an elevated experience.
“We are very excited to be part of a community that is unique and diverse, which is what we looked for during our second opening search,” said Haralambidis. “The support from local businesses and the community of West Chester make opening a store a little easier, knowing you have individuals who know the work involved.”
Catering, delivery and pickup are all available.
Find Rize at 124 E. Market St. in West Chester; phone: (484) 473-8924.
- Photos: Ed Williams
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