Oct. 26, 2021

A neighborhood pizza shop is expanding to downtown Sioux Falls.

Sunny’s Pizzeria is taking over the kitchen at EightyOne Arcade Bar early next month. The arcade is in The Carpenter Building on Phillips Avenue between 10th and 11th streets.

“I’ve had a lot of people ask me if we’d ever consider a second location in Sioux Falls, but I always envisioned Sunny’s as being something that was one of one. However, this was a unique opportunity to open up within another very successful business, so it was really kind of a no-brainer,” owner Jon Oppold said. “I just love the way the brands fit.”

EightyOne owner Errol Stewart reached out to Oppold after Dan Myers, who had been serving food for the arcade bar and operating his catering business out of the kitchen, left for another opportunity. Myers is now the general manager for Crawford’s Bar & Grill across the street, which is under new ownership.

“He (Oppold) immediately popped into my mind as I’ve always wanted it to be more pizza,” Stewart said of the arcade bar’s menu. “Arcade and pizza is a great combination.”

Sunny’s full menu of thin crust pizzas will be available at EightyOne. Oppold said he’s looking at different appetizer offerings for the downtown location, but they likely won’t be introduced right away.

He’s hoping to open Nov. 4 or 11.

In addition to serving arcade customers, Sunny’s will be a great takeout offering for the growing number of downtown residents and workers who are headed home at night, Stewart said.

Oppold and his wife, Katy, opened the pizzeria in late 2019 at 26th and Walts between the campuses of the University of Sioux Falls and Augustana University.

EightyOne, which features Oppold’s collection of video games that span 40 years, started in Harrisburg in late 2017 and moved in May 2020 to downtown Sioux Falls. It also has pinball machines.

The arcade is open from 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday and Sunday and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Pizza will be served from opening to midnight, and if the demand is there, the hours might be extended to closing.