When brothers Brandon and Zane Hunt first launched Via 313 Pizzeria in Austin, Texas, 15 years ago, they couldn’t have imagined that their little food trailer—that’s all it was back then—would lead to this: The city of Austin has officially designated March 13 as Via 313 Pizzeria Day.
The Hunt brothers, who were featured on PMQ Pizza’s September 2021 cover, grew up near Detroit before moving down to Texas, far away from the Motor City’s long, cruel winters. They built their first Via 313 trailer for $30,000. Zane was still working a day job at the time while Brandon focused on their mobile pizzeria. “I was paying myself $250 a week,” Brandon told PMQ. “Zane didn’t pay himself for the first two years. We were reinvesting in the business nonstop. We were working 16 hours a day, seven days a week. That’s no exaggeration.”
They opened their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2015, their second in 2016 and No. 3 in 2018. “Then we started feeling stretched and needed to bring in some outside help.” First, they raised their own equity funding in 2016 and 2017—more than $800,000, in fact—but then came Savory Fund. Reps from that group journeyed to Austin, tried the Hunt boys’ pizza and wanted in.
With Savory Fund’s backing, Via 313 has now grown to 26 locations nationwide. Everywhere the brand goes across the western U.S., more lucky pizza lovers are discovering the square-shaped, cheesy-edged delight that is Detroit-style pizza. And if they’re lucky, they might get to spend a little time with the affable Zane and Brandon, too.
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To celebrate the newly designated Via 313 Day this week, the brand will offer $10 Detroiters—Brandon and Zane’s signature double-pepperoni pie (pictured below)—and $10 classic cheese pizzas, along with all-day happy hours across all Texas and Colorado locations.
The brand is also offering some serious 313 Month Rewards, allowing loyalty members to earn bonus points and unlock badges by trying seasonal offerings like the Big Dill Pizza, Spinach Artichoke Dip and Turtle Hub Cap dessert. Participants can enter to win prizes including a 313 Month swag package, a pizza party for 20 and—for those who unlock the ‘Legend’ badge—early access to upcoming menu items and a chance to win a private cooking session with Brandon and Zane.
“For Detroiters, 313 isn’t just an area code — it’s an identity,” said Kiplan Welsch, president of Via 313. “Brandon and Zane carried that pride with them when they started slinging pizzas out of a trailer in Austin, and to see this city now claim March 13 as its own feels like the ultimate full-circle moment. What started as two brothers sharing the food they grew up with has become part of Austin’s story, too. It’s a testament to the community that showed up for us early and never stopped.”
