Missoula’s local Bridge Pizza restaurant on Higgins Ave went under renovation this last summer. Bridge Pizza has been a family-owned restaurant since 1995, with the Higgins building being their first ever location.

Annie Hickok, The Front of House Supervisor who has worked at Bridge for three years now, said that the main reason for the renovation was simply because the building “needed new bones” and it had been “many years without a remodel.” They closed in March of 2025 and reopened in September of 2025.

The majority of the renovation was in the kitchen. According to Hickok, the renovation brought a new and improved pizza oven for “more efficient” pizza production, as well as a new till for pickup orders. The new till is specifically for customers who have already submitted their order, whether online or by call, so they can skip the ordering line and pay quicker. This has helped the lines move faster and helps avoid congestion by the doors.

This renovation inspired changes to the menu as well. Bridge brought back their popular Whitaker pizza with pesto cream, garlic confit, cauliflower, and goat cheese. They also added a fried cauliflower appetizer. They removed all pastas and sandwiches from this location’s menu, but the Brooks St. Bridge Pizza location still has both available on their menu.

Hickok said business has been just as busy as before the renovation. From their delivery system to the newly improved drive through to easy carryout to dine-in, Bridge has many ordering options for their customers, making it a hotspot during all hours of the day.

Even with all of these options for ordering, dine-in still seems to be their most popular ordering system. “43% of sales were dine-in” on Friday, Oct. 17, according to Hickok, and most nights there is “a lot of foot traffic” with this location being directly on the Hip Strip of Missoula.

Many customers are enjoying Bridge’s new look as well. “I really like the new entry,” said Andi Price, a Bridge Pizza regular. “The vestibule area makes it nice” with a “space to wait if it’s very busy inside.” Price also enjoys the “new counter area for ordering and paying,” the drink station that’s in a “better location” and the nice look of the building from the outside.

Another Bridge customer, Bella St. John, said she really likes “the new drive through” as it is “very efficient.” She also loves how they have “kept the building’s original atmosphere” but added “a modernized look to it.”

This renovation has really brought the long-awaited update to Bridge while still keeping the original building’s charm. Bridge Pizza is glad they could get this renovation done and are happy with how it has turned out. Many customers are very happy with the changes as well and are enjoying the enhanced efficiency.