Justin Neel is the guy you want in charge of the menu.
“Pizza is what I love. It’s what I do,” said Neel, co-owner of Social Tap, which has a location at Wichita State’s Braeburn Square. Neel has more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry — 17 of those specifically in pizza.
Now, Neel and partners Luke Luttrell and David Hopkins are bringing another pizza option to Braeburn Square: Pizza Shuttle.
A staple dining option for college students in Manhattan, Lawrence and Topeka, Pizza Shuttle is a familiar flavor for many Kansans.
Pizza Shuttle aims to start serving the public sometime during the week of Jan. 26 and will initially be open from 11 a.m. to midnight. Though if demand necessitates it, the restaurant will extend its late-night hours.
"When I started whispering about possibly opening a Pizza Shuttle in Wichita, 99 out of 100 people knew what it was and had a story about it,” Neel said.
Many of those stories include late-night, after-party pizzas and the iconic Shuttle Drop — a fan-favorite ritual where the boxed pizza is dropped once to soak excess grease into the cardboard, leaving behind a crispier slice.
“We’re bringing the fun,” Neel said.
Neel isn’t concerned about any conflict between Social Tap, which serves Sungrano Pizza, and Pizza Shuttle. Whereas Sungrano offers gourmet and niche flavors, “Pizza Shuttle is about speed and quality.”
But make no mistake: Pizza Shuttle is no slouch in the taste department. A sneak peek at the menu offers a preview of all the options one would expect from a college pizza parlor.
Beyond its pies, Pizza Shuttle will offer cheese sticks, soft drinks and eventually beer. Patrons can order online or in-person. Walk-in specials will include $8 for a 10-inch pizza and soda and $14 for a 14-inch pizza and soda. The restaurant has tables for 18-20 people, as well as patio seating.
About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 overall for engineering R&D.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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