Guerrilla Pizza Gives Las Vegas a Taste of Detroit
Bo Brusco | April 4, 2021 (5-minute read)
With business beginning to pick up in Las Vegas’s Downtown area, a new pizza shop only a few minutes south of the Art’s District is quickly becoming a local favorite. The owner of the shop, Robby Cunningham, recounts his journey to starting Guerilla Pizza and shares his passion for Detroit-style pies.
Robby about to slice a pie at Guerrilla Pizza in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 3, 2021. (Photo: Bo Brusco)
A Hidden Gem
It’s no secret that the Arts District is a local favorite in Las Vegas, Nevada, and with the vaccine rollout underway, people are beginning to flock to the area in mass once again. This past weekend was the first in-person First Friday held since the onset of the pandemic. As 8newsnow.com reported, “the event’s comeback is a big boost for Downtown.”
Inside the Hard Hat Lounge, Guerrilla Pizza crafts delicious Detroit-style Pies in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. April 3, 2021. (Photo: Bo Brusco)
Being home to a smorgasbord of good food and excellent bars, the Arts District appeals to all who seek an authentic “Downtown” experience. But just a few minutes south of the district is a hidden gem of a pizza shop called Guerrilla Pizza. The shop is located inside the Hard Hat Lounge, and the owner of the shop, Robby Cunningham, has a master’s intuition for concocting delicious Detroit-style pizza.
Bringing Detroit to Las Vegas
“I think what sets our pizza apart from others is not only the style and flavors but the attitude that comes with it,” says Cunningham referring to the shop’s unique location and its niche cuisine. “The Hard Hat is in a seedier part of downtown, right off the beaten path.”
“In a city full of hand-tossed, round pizzas, we’re bringing a unique pizza,” Cunningham explains, “made exactly the way it’s made back in Detroit, full of robust flavor that you can’t just get from a can of crushed tomatoes and basil leaves.”
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, what makes Cunningham a formidable pizza maker is his undying passion for the craft coupled with his ability to recreate the style of pizza from his hometown.
Robby’s work. Las Vegas, Nevada. April 3, 2021. (Photo: Bo Brusco)
The Origins of Guerilla Pizza
Having worked in pizza shops from his teens through his early twenties, Cunningham was familiar with the pizza-making process. But it wasn’t until 2019 that he truly became devoted to the art.
“I bought a deep dish pan off of Amazon,” he recalls, “and began making pizzas at home in hopes to try to create something that resembles what I grew up on.”
By May of the same year, Cunningham had successfully created the first real prototype of the deep-dish he currently serves at Guerrilla Pizza.
A compilation of photos from @guerrillapizzadtlv’s Instagram account.
Shortly thereafter, Cunningham began making pizzas and posting photos of his work on Instagram, both on his personal account and one he had created specifically for his culinary work. His pizza quickly became popular, winning the hearts and stomachs of his friends and other Vegas locals.
In July 2020, Cunningham was contacted by the Hard Hat Lounge’s general manager, who offered him the opportunity to open his own shop in the same building. “We sat down, and they tried the pizza, and we got to business,” says Cunningham.
Though the prospect of operating his own shop sounded like a dream come true, getting things started was a strenuous ordeal. Cunningham faced serious financial obstacles.
“It took a few months trying to find financing,” he recollects. “I couldn’t get a damn dollar from the banks, so after nearly giving up. I sent out a plea on my Instagram story, asking if I had any friends interested in investing.”
To his relief, Cunningham discovered he had some charitable friends who believed in him. “Sure enough, my best friend’s sister and brother-in-law reached out to me, and they were able to float me $5000 to get it all started!” says Cunningham.
Thanks to that generous donation, Cunningham had enough to cover the costs of the required equipment. “We were able to get exactly what we needed, on a super tight budget,” he says.
By October 2020, Guerrilla Pizza had officially opened for business and has been serving its iconic squares ever since.
@guerrillapizzadtlv’s first Instagram post features Robby Cunningham holding a receipt for supplies in Las Vegas, Nevada. Posted on September 27, 2020 with the caption: Initial supplies receipt as tall as me.
Plans for the Future
Expressing his devotion to the craft, Cunningham says his goal for the shop is to keep focusing on what they’re doing right. “The goal for Guerrilla has always been and will always be to keep it simple,” he says, referring to their Detroit-style pies.
As for his future aspirations, Cunningham says he wants “to use our pizza to create immersive concept restaurants using variations of it.”
Guerrilla is also offering employment opportunities as Cunningham is looking to build a team of pizza connoisseurs as passionate as himself. Cunningham says that new hires can earn up to $15 an hour and to “Hit [them] up if you need a job!”
