Pizzeria Luca is taking its wood-fired pizza and Italian-inspired menu south, and for owners Taylor and Leeann Mason, the move is as much about family and adventure as it is about business.
The Masons, who own Luca in Lancaster as well as Pizzeria Luca in the Wegman’s-anchored Manheim Township Crossings at Conestoga Creek shopping center, have signed a lease for two spaces in a new mixed-use development in West Palm Beach, Florida. The spaces, totaling about 2,400 square feet, are being combined into one restaurant that is expected to open in early January.
As their business expands, the restauranteurs plan to continue operations at both of their Lancaster County restaurants.
The Masons weren’t actively looking for another location when a developer approached them with the opportunity, but the timing and location made sense.
“We knew that if we were to open another restaurant we had two requirements: it couldn’t be in Pennsylvania and our family life had to be enhanced by the location,” Taylor Mason said.
Leeann Mason added that the liquor laws in Pennsylvania made it hard for them to fully execute their vision for upscale Italian dining. For example, current laws require restaurants to buy alcohol from the same distributor that supplies their food, preventing them from switching suppliers, which can increase their costs and reduce their beverage options. Additionally, if they were to open another restaurant in the state, it would need to be in an area that had available liquor licenses, which could limit their vision for a space.
The new Pizzeria Luca will be smaller than the Manheim Township restaurant, which occupies nearly 3,000 square feet, but will have a similar layout and the same style of wood-burning oven. Outdoor dining also will be a key feature, designed in part to attract tourists visiting the area.
The restaurant is being built as part of a new development that includes a small row of restaurants, boutique shops and a small grocery store. The Masons said the coastal setting also felt like a natural fit for Pizzeria Luca’s aesthetic and Italian-inspired approach.
The couple has vacationed in the area with their four children, and they spent part of the summer there as they began working to bring the restaurant to life.
The Florida restaurant will use the same core menu as Pizzeria Luca in Manheim Township, with adjustments based on what ingredients are available locally and seasonally. That means customers can expect the same basic Pizzeria Luca philosophy of buying local produce and other goods while seeing some differences between the Pennsylvania and Florida menus.
The Masons opened Pizzeria Luca in 2023 as a more casual counterpart to Luca, their Lancaster restaurant. The concept was designed to bridge the gap between high-end dining and fast-casual food, giving families a place to enjoy a quality meal together without the formality of fine dining.
The restaurant also was designed to work for different occasions, whether that means a family dinner, a date night, a celebration or a quick lunch.
“We have seen engagements, graduation parties, birthday parties, baby announcements- so many great community moments,” Leeanne said. “We love this community and what this space has allowed us to build.”
Now, they are wanting to build that same feeling in a new community, but they have no intention of leaving Lancaster.
“We’re excited for a new adventure and to be part of a new community in this way,” Leeann Mason said. “But we love Lancaster. We’re not going anywhere.”
While they may not be moving out of Lancaster, some of their staff is. Taylor said several employees at Luca Pizzeria have volunteered to relocate to Florida to help make that restaurant a success.
“For me, success is being able to turn my employees into leaders that can take the reins and we have that here,” he said. “They have worked hard and I am excited to offer them more opportunities to hone their skills.”
Both of the Masons said they are ready to bring more people together in a community setting and have a positive impact on a new place while still growing their family and businesses in Lancaster County.
“We really think about our impact on the community, and we want it to be positive,” Taylor said. “And now we can do that in another community. That’s an exciting opportunity.”
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Dining and Cooking