As Bluff Park has grown more popular in recent years, a lack of places to eat continues to be something that residents talk about. In early 2026, though, a new locally owned restaurant will plant their flag in the historic Hoover neighborhood.
Brian Bowness and Corey Brannon have signed a lease at Bluff Park Village shopping center to open Little Luna Pizza. Both of them are originally from Birmingham. Bowness completed his culinary degree in Birmingham and moved to Atlanta, working in a variety of kitchens including neighborhood pubs and high-end fine dining restaurants. Eventually he returned home to Birmingham, joining Five Star Catering as sous chef at the Barber Motorsports Complex. After a number of years, he moved into restaurant management of a Chicago-based pizzeria.
Brian Bowness
Brannon followed a similar path, graduating from the University of Alabama and moving to Atlanta and working in the BPO (business process outsourcing) industry. That job took him to Texas for a while before he returned to Alabama in 2024.
“Our menu is intentionally focused, featuring exceptional pizzas, fresh salads, and refined desserts,” Bowness explains. “We specialize in East Coast-inspired pizza made exclusively with the highest-quality domestic ingredients.” He goes on to discuss their dough, which is cold fermented for a minimum of 72 hours. The result is a light, crisp crust with a deep flavor profile.
They hope to open in March 2026, depending on how the build-out goes. The new restaurant will be located between the former Dollar General space and New China Restaurant.
“We will operate as a carryout-only pizzeria,” Bowness says, “but we will have a small section of outdoor seating for guests who prefer to enjoy their meal on-site.” They will also offer delivery through third-party apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.
“We are really excited about opening in Bluff Park,” Brannon says. “My mother recently moved to Bluff Park so we are familiar with the area, community, atmosphere, and the need for more options” in the community.
Find Little Luna Pizza on Instagram at @littlelunapizzabham. You can also visit their website at www.littlelunapizza.com.