Co-Founder & CEO
Brandon Hunt
Detroit native and the vision behind Via 313. Brandon's passion for authentic pizza and community-driven business has shaped the brand from day one.
Our Story
About Via 313
Born in Detroit, raised in Austin — via 313 pizza is more than a meal. It's a love letter to Motor City tradition, crafted fresh every day in the heart of Texas.
2012
Est. Austin, TX
How It All Began
The Story Behind
The Story Behind
Via 313 Pizza
Via 313 was born from a deep love of Detroit — its food, its grit, and its flavor. The name itself is a nod to the 313 area code, home of the Motor City and everything that makes it legendary.
Founders Brandon and Zane Hunt grew up eating authentic Detroit-style pizza — thick, rectangular, baked in seasoned steel pans until the cheese caramelizes against the crust. When they moved to Austin in 2012, they couldn't find anything close to the pizza they loved. So they built it themselves.
What started as a trailer on South Lamar has grown into multiple Austin locations, a devoted community of pizza lovers, and a nationally recognized via313 brand. Every pie is still made the way it always has been — hand-pressed dough, layered cheese to the edges, and sauce ladled on top.
Multiple Locations
Serving Austin from several spots across the city
Award-Winning
Nationally recognized for authentic Detroit-style pizza
Community Rooted
Part of Austin's East Side since day one
What Drives Us
Our Mission & via 313 Promise
Everything we do centers on one commitment: to serve the most authentic, crave-worthy Detroit-style pizza you've ever tasted, made with integrity and served with heart.
Authentic Craft
We follow the traditional Detroit-style method — thick pan dough, caramelized cheese edges, and sauce on top — every single time. No shortcuts.
Quality Ingredients
We source the finest Wisconsin brick cheese, house-made sauces, and fresh toppings. Great pizza starts long before it hits the oven.
Community First
We're proud members of Austin's East Side. We hire locally, partner locally, and give back to the community that embraced us from the start.
Genuine Hospitality
Every guest who walks through our door — or places an order — deserves to feel welcomed. We believe great food is best enjoyed with warmth.
Our Journey
A Decade of via 313 Pizza
From a tiny trailer to a beloved Austin institution — here's how via313 grew into what it is today.
2012
The Trailer Days
Brandon and Zane Hunt launch Via 313 as a food trailer on South Lamar Boulevard. Austinites quickly fall in love with the Detroit-style pies.
2014
East 6th Street Location
Via 313 opens its first brick-and-mortar restaurant at 1802 E 6th St — a historic milestone that established the brand as an East Side staple.
2016
National Recognition
Food media across the nation take notice. Via 313 earns praise from major publications as one of America's best pizza spots, putting Austin on the pizza map.
2018
Second Austin Location
Growing demand leads to expansion. Via 313 opens a second Austin location, bringing the Detroit-style experience to more neighborhoods across the city.
2020
Online Ordering & Delivery
Via 313 adapts and evolves, launching full online ordering and delivery services to keep the community fed and the pizza coming during challenging times.
2024
Celebrating 12 Years
Via 313 marks over a decade of authentic via313 pizza in Austin, with a growing team, loyal fans, and an unwavering commitment to Detroit tradition.
The People Behind the Pizza
Meet Our Team
Via 313 is powered by passionate people who share a love for great food, community, and the Detroit way of making pizza.
Co-Founder & COO
Zane Hunt
The operational mastermind of Via 313. Zane ensures every location runs smoothly and that every pizza that leaves the kitchen meets our exacting standards.
Head Chef
Maria Santos
With 15 years in artisan kitchens, Maria leads recipe development and quality control. She guards the integrity of every Via 313 pizza recipe with fierce dedication.
Community Manager
James Okafor
James is the heartbeat of Via 313's community presence. From local events to partnerships, he builds the bridges between our brand and Austin's neighborhoods.
Want to join our incredible team?
View Open Positions
What We Stand For
Our Core Values
Passion for Craft
We approach every pizza with the same fire as the first one we ever made. Craft isn't a marketing word — it's the only way we know how to work.
Honest Hospitality
No pretension, no theatrics — just genuine warmth and a desire to make your visit or your order something you look forward to every time.
Sustainable Sourcing
We choose ingredients that are good for our pizzas and good for the planet. Supporting responsible suppliers is part of how we do business.
Integrity Always
From fair wages for our team to transparency with our guests — we believe doing right by people is the foundation of a business worth building.
Constant Curiosity
While we honor tradition, we never stop exploring. New toppings, seasonal specials, and creative combinations keep our menu exciting and our team inspired.
Rooted in Austin
Austin gave us our start and our soul. We invest in this city's culture, events, and people — because Via 313 is as much Austin as it is Detroit.