Rotolo’s Craft & Crust is opening its second pizzeria in the area, with a new Collierville location. 

The restaurant will be part of the Water Tower District in Schilling Farms and will be housed in a white brick building, visible from West Poplar Avenue, alongside Crumbl Cookies and South of Beale. 

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“We have been interested in Collierville from the get-go,” said Blaire Bobo, who, along with her husband, Taylor, are the chain’s local franchisees. They opened an East Memphis Rotolo’s location in May of 2022, with a line of people stretching outside the door. 

The Collierville Rotolo’s will be the second location of the pizza chain in Tennessee, and the fourth Rotolo’s franchise for the Bobos. The couple also own two of the restaurants in Louisiana.

Rotolo’s originated in Baton Rouge, and the Bobos both attended Louisiana State University. During that time, they often frequented the restaurant.

After doing some research in Collierville, the 50-acre Water Tower District was the answer, Blaire Bobo said.

“We are excited about the new developments and everything going for it,” Blaire Bobo said by phone Friday. “We live in East Memphis but are in Collierville often because our kids play sports there.” 

Jones Aur Commercial Real Estate is overseeing the leasing for the Water Tower District. 

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“I represented them on their White Station deal,” said Jonathan Aur, founding partner with Jones Aur. “We have a great relationship with Blaire and Taylor. It was always the intention to do another location. So we looked at what made the most sense.”

The menu and look of the Collierville restaurant will be the same as the East Memphis location, although the layout will be slightly different. There will be a courtyard-style patio, and the different crust offerings with deep dish and gluten free options will remain.

Bobo said they are looking at other opportunities to expand, and Southaven could be next.

South of Beale and Rotolo’s will be the first two restaurants in Schilling Farms to offer happy hour specials.

“It’s in the center of town on Poplar; there’s 1,000 office jobs behind it,” John Duncan, Collierville economic development director, said of the pizzeria. “With Baptist Collierville across the street, it’s a hot spot. I’m confident it will do well.”

Part of the Water Tower District plan is to create a walkable community within Schilling Farms, Boyle Investment Company’s 443-acre mixed-use development. The Water Tower District’s neighborhood will be centered around an aged water tower, similar to the one on the site when it was a working farm.

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The Water Tower District includes about 259 apartments, and the foundation was poured this week, Aur said. Town leaders also approved a TownePlace Suites by Marriott west of the Water Tower District, and there is a Hampton Inn across the street. 

The construction of the space is nearly complete, according to Aur. Negotiations are still underway for some retail space, and there still are two spaces — 3,000 square feet and 1,500 square feet — fronting Poplar. Aur said his team is pursuing health and wellness providers as well as soft goods shops.

“(Eateries) are the best anchors,” Aur said. “They really set the tone for the development. We like to figure that out first, then we can plug and play with everybody else.”