Petite Version of Atlanta Neapolitan Pizzeria Antico Heads to Tucker in 2022

Antico owner Giovanni Di Palma plans to open a petite version of his popular Home Park pizzeria in Tucker next year at the upcoming Publix-anchored Hugh Howell Marketplace. Called Antico Sporto, the restaurant will offer a scaled-down menu of Neapolitan-style pizzas found at the original restaurant in Atlanta baked in an Acunto Napoli pizza oven. The Tucker restaurant also features an open-air patio, according to a press release.

Joining Antico Sporto next year at the Hugh Howell Marketplace are locations of Atlanta-based salad and grain bowl restaurant Gusto and all-day breakfast and brunch chain First Watch.

Di Palma first opened Antico Pizza 12 years ago on Hemphill Avenue in Atlanta’s Home Park neighborhood, quickly becoming a popular spot for nearby Georgia Tech students to dine, and later attracting the attention of visiting celebrities to the city. Two additional locations of the pizzeria are now open at the Battery Atlanta in Cobb County and Avalon in Alpharetta.

A Sandy Springs outpost of Antico was scrapped prior to the pandemic. Di Palma cited permitting issues with the city of Sandy Springs, along with budget concerns following the opening of Gio’s Chicken at the Battery earlier in the year. The Battery location of Gio’s Chicken closed last summer due to the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 Braves baseball season and COVID-19 dining restrictions resulting from the pandemic.

Since opening Antico in 2009, Di Palma expanded the Antico brand to other businesses along Hemphill Avenue, now part of a mini food village he refers to as his version of “Little Italia” in Atlanta. Along with the original Antico Pizza, Little Italia includes Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano, gelato shop Caffe Antico, and Bar Amalfi.

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• All Antico coverage [EATL]
• All Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano coverage [EATL]
• Antico’s Giovanni Di Palma Will Pay $330K in Back Wages [EATL]