The upcoming space will be slightly larger than the original Wilshire Boulevard shop—about 1,250 square feet compared to roughly 1,000—and will offer amenities the first location never could, including ample parking, indoor seating, and the potential for beer, wine, and live music.
“We’ve never had the opportunity for collabs or live events at Wilshire,” De Leon said. “This spot has 200 parking spaces. It’s got room for people to hang out, eat, and really be part of the culture.”
De Leon said the expansion wasn’t part of a grand plan. A friend from Crenshaw Juice Co. encouraged him to look at space, and he couldn’t turn it down once he saw it.
“I wasn’t even looking,” he explained. “But once I walked in, it was hard to resist. It felt right.”
The new Apollonia’s will serve the same Detroit and New York–style pizzas that have made De Leon’s name synonymous with LA pizza. He hinted that he might add a pasta dish to the menu, using the restaurant’s popular vodka sauce.
For Justin and his wife Linda, expanding into Crenshaw is about more than business—it’s about representing Los Angeles at its most authentic.
“Crenshaw has such a strong car and lowrider culture. On New Year’s Day the whole street fills up,” he said. “You can’t get a more real LA experience than that. I’m super hyped about what this space can become.”
Apollonia’s Pizzeria Crenshaw is expected to soft open shortly after Thanksgiving.
Dining and Cooking