It is finally here, the Chula Vista TNT Pizza is opening on Wednesday May 27th

If you have been following Chula Vista Living for any length of time, you already know that Chula Vista TNT Pizza has been one of my most-talked-about topics for the past two-plus years. I have covered this story in videos, in posts, and in countless conversations with people around the community who kept asking me, “When is it actually opening?” Well, the wait is officially over. TNT Pizza has arrived in downtown Chula Vista, and I am thrilled to finally be writing this post.

Two Years in the Making

I want to be real with you for a moment. I have been watching this project unfold for a long time. When I first started talking about TNT Pizza potentially coming to Chula Vista, it was still just a dream on paper. Two years of videos, updates, and community anticipation later, we are here. I was lucky enough to be invited to preview the brand-new location before it even opened its doors to the public, and I was back again recently for their Friends and Family event. Both times, I left genuinely excited about what this restaurant will mean for our Third Avenue community.

The Space: A Love Letter to Old-School Pizza

The new TNT Pizza is taking over the former Attitude Brewing Company space on Third Avenue, right next door to the Tender Hooligan. When you walk in, the first thing that hits you is the atmosphere. I love the classic pizza house style to this location. They even have a small arcade in the back. Think warm amber lighting, wood-paneled walls, checkerboard floors, vintage-style maroon leather booths, and stained-glass hanging lamps that cast the whole room in this cozy, nostalgic glow.

And then there is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade machine tucked into the corner. If that does not immediately tell you everything you need to know about this restaurant’s vibe, I do not know what will. It is playful, it is retro, and it feels like something you would stumble into in 1980s New York City. For a community like ours that has been craving more character-driven dining experiences downtown, this space is a breath of fresh air.

Here is the YouTube video I made about four months ago when I was invited to take a sneak peek inside the brand-new TNT Pizza.

Who Is Behind Chula Vista TNT Pizza?

TNT Pizza, which stands for “Thick N’ Thin,” was founded by Kevin Gist and Joseph Ghafouri Wehrly, two guys with deep roots in the local pizza world. The concept was born during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020, starting as a preorder-only pizza pop-up that quickly built a devoted following in San Diego. By late 2021, they had opened their first permanent location in downtown San Diego’s East Village neighborhood, and from there the word spread fast.

This Chula Vista location is their second and is significantly larger than their East Village spot. That extra room is not just for more seating. It gives the team space to expand the menu and get creative in ways they have not been able to before.

The Pizza (And So Much More)

TNT has made a name for itself with a diverse lineup that covers a lot of ground. Detroit-style pies with those caramelized, crispy cheese edges. Ultra-thin tavern-style slices. New York-inspired options. Inventive specialty combinations like pickle pizzas. And a genuinely thoughtful selection of vegan offerings made with house-produced substitutes.

The Chula Vista location will carry all of that, plus the owners plan to roll out stromboli, deep-fried calzones, sandwiches, appetizers, desserts, and rotating specials as they settle into their new home. Beer and wine service is also in the works, pending licensing approval, which is going to make date nights on Third Avenue a whole lot more interesting.

Why This Matters for Chula Vista

I talk a lot about downtown Chula Vista’s growth because I genuinely believe in it. Third Avenue has been on an impressive run when it comes to new dining and nightlife, and TNT Pizza fits right into that momentum. What makes this one feel different to me is the fact that this is not a chain. This is an independent, San Diego-born concept with a loyal following and a clear identity. Bringing that kind of energy to our community is exactly the type of thing that helps elevate the entire dining scene.

The fact that they chose Chula Vista for their second location says something. This is not an afterthought. This is a restaurant that wants to be part of what is happening here, and after everything I have seen in the past two years of following this story, I have every reason to believe they are going to become a South Bay staple.

Mark Your Calendars

Chula Vista TNT Pizza officially opens to the public on Wednesday, May 27, at 221 Third Avenue in downtown Chula Vista. If you want to stay up to date with everything they have coming, follow them on Instagram at @tntsdpizza.

I will absolutely be back here with more coverage as they continue to grow into the space and launch new menu items. In the meantime, go check them out. Downtown Chula Vista just got a lot more delicious.