New Name, Brand for Royal Oak Restaurant

Pizzeria Biga, on Main Street in downtown Royal Oak, will soon become Bigalora: Wood Fired Cucina.

The restaurant's website, logo, color scheme and signage will changeover at the end of October, said Michael Chetcuti, of Royal Oak.

"We're expanding the brand and there was really no way to protect or trademark the name Pizzeria Biga, so we made up a name," said Chetcuti, the creative director.

"Allora" is a word Italians like to toss out a lot, Chetcuti said.

"It's used a variety of ways. It can mean 'I agree' or 'let's go.'" he said.

The Italian word "biga" means yeast.

The 3,100-square-foot Pizzeria Biga opened in the century-old St. Clair Edison power plant building in 2012 and seats 76 people. There is also a Pizzeria Biga in Southfield on Franklin Road and a third location in Ann Arbor is set to open in October under the Bigalora name.

A new menu is also part of the new look, said Chetcuti.

"We've already introduced a ton of new small plates," he said. "You can basically build your own entree."

And the pizza? That's not going to change.

"We're not getting away from pizza but we're always evolving," Chetcuti said. "We'll never shy away from pizza though."

Pizzeria Biga/Bigalora: Wood Fired Cucina is located at 711 S Main St.