The waiting begins.

Longtime customers of Steve’s Pizza will have to wait a little more than a week to order a Mama Mia pizza with pepperoni, sausage and extra cheese or sit down for a Greek chicken pizza, complete with gourmet onions, red and green peppers, chicken and kalamata dressing.

The Austin restaurant closed Wednesday at its 215 Second Ave. N.E. location as it prepares to relocate to 421 North Main St., which is the former Granle’s building. The restaurant is moving to make room for the new jail and justice center.

Steve Davis, owner of Steve’s Pizza, which has been an Austin staple since 1978, said his restaurant will reopen Monday, March 16.

“We’re just happy to be in Austin because Austin is my hometown,” Davis said. “We’re pleased to have a new location downtown. We just enjoy the downtown area, so we’re glad to be there.”

Manager Alex Davis said a grand opening is being planned for sometime in April. Steve Davis said that at first his menu will stay the same, but that down the road he’s looking to offer more Italian choices, such as chicken parmesan.

For now, though, he said the goal is to maintain the quality of pizza and service of the restaurant.

“I have mixed feelings,” he said about the move.

“I’m a little sad, but on the other hand moving to a new place and designing it the way we want is exciting.”

The phone number for Steve’s Pizza, 437-3249, remains unchanged.