Palisadians Welcomed to a Free Pizza Pie at Flour

Share Story :

Robert Flutie (right) with his general manager Wilson Pinto in the Flour Pizzeria that is opening in Brentwood on Valentine’s Day.

One of Pacific Palisades’ favorite pizza places was Flour on Via de la Paz. It was among the businesses destroyed in the Palisades Fire on January 7.

Owner Robert Flutie had planned to open his second store in Brentwood, but after the fire, he expedited the opening at 11684 San Vicente (just east of Barrington). “We want to connect back to the community,” Flutie said.

For his soft opening, he is offering all Palisadians a free pizza pie on Valentines Day, Friday, February 14. Go to flourpizzacommunity.com to sign up.

And as a bonus to the residents, the staff from Pallisades Flour will be there, it will be their new work location as well. Stop by and say “hi.”

The next day, Saturday, during their soft opening, Flutie is giving a free slice to anyone stopping in. The restaurant will officially open on Sunday, February 16, with the same menu they had in the Palisades.

After the breakfast nook/pizza spot burned, a go-fund me was started for his staff and about $10,000 was raised. Flutie also continued to pay his staff, even though the pizzeria had been closed. “It was important to me to stop the disruption in their lives,” Flutie said.

He also said, “I’d like to get back to the Palisades as quickly as possible.” Flutie’s already looking for a location, so once the town reopens, Flour pizza may be available.

On Via de la Paz, the Swedish pizza oven burnt, but in Brentwood, Flutie has replaced it with an Italian pizza oven, Moretti Forni, considered the top of the line. “The top and bottom are heated simultaneously, which makes the crust crispy and airy at the same time,” he said.

Flour also carries a gluten-free pizza. “My partner is sensitive to gluten, but she can eat this pizza,” Flutie said. The crust is made with flour from Italy and there are no GMOs or pesticides in the wheat: the crust is deglutinated.

This new location will also carry the special Palisadians loved: two slices and a drink for $9.

This editor’s favorite slice has a light red sauce with a hint of parmesan and a nice helping of  Burrata and hot honey.

“I want reestablish the connection with the Pacific Palisades community,” Flutie said.

About the fire, he said that his insurance company was good and paid for the burned equipment and is reimbursing for the construction costs that he incurred building out the space on Via.

His home burned in the fire, too, and he was asked about his plans. “Everyday my answer is different,” said Flutie, who is now in an apartment in Santa Monica. “I’m in no rush.” He worries about the air quality but said he’s already taken the first steps, contacting an architect and a surveyor.

Initially, he opened Flour as a place kids could go after school and get a slice or an affordable gathering place for families.

“When I was growing up in Floral Park Queens, one of my fondest memories was getting $5 from my mom on Fridays and going to Lorenzo’s Pizzeria on Union Turnpike,” Flutie said, noting that was enough money for two slices and a drink. “My friends and I would sit and bond. Pizza parlors in New York City during the 70s and 80s (and today) were places where kids/teens could sit and share stories.”

Flutie also plans to take his concept to different areas of the country that lack high quality pizza, “pizza desserts,” he said.

But now, it’s about healing. He was in India at a spiritual wellness retreat when the fire raged through the Palisades.

He was told that “fires give you an opportunity to start over from a fertile place.”

Flutie said, “On Friday, Valentine’s Day, we would love nothing more than to serve every Palisadian pizza.”

Share Story :