For Anthony Calleo, pizza has always been about more than dough, sauce, and cheese.
The Houston restaurateur and self-described “pizza journeyman” has spent years shaping some of the city’s most recognizable concepts, from Pi Pizza and Gold Tooth Tony’s to Betelgeuse Betelgeuse and Rudyard’s. Now, with the opening of Galaxy Pizza at 6450 Louetta Road in Spring, Calleo is taking diners on a deeply personal journey—one that blends vintage pizzeria culture, playful creativity, and a newfound mission rooted in autism advocacy.
Galaxy Pizza officially celebrates its grand opening this Saturday, June 6, bringing a nostalgic neighborhood pizza destination to northwest Houston. Designed by artist Brian Dibala of Neon Thrash, the 1,800-square-foot restaurant feels like a love letter to the classic American pizza parlors many grew up with, complete with retro aesthetics, arcade-inspired energy, and an unmistakable sense of fun. But beneath the colorful branding and cosmic theme is a concept driven by craftsmanship.
At the heart of Galaxy Pizza is Calleo’s hybrid dough recipe, a four-day-aged creation that borrows techniques from Detroit-style and Neo-Neapolitan pizza traditions before being baked in a conveyor oven. Made in 12-, 14-, or 16-inch rounds, each crust is finished with house-made garlic butter and proprietary seasoning blends applied both before and after baking.
On the menu, familiar favorites sit alongside inventive specialty pies, all built around the idea that great pizza starts with strong fundamentals. Among the standouts is the Pepperonius Maximus, a crowd-pleaser loaded with three varieties of pepperoni and extra cheese. The Tom Selleck combines bacon, ham, pepperoni strips and pineapple for a nostalgic throwback, while the Salad Days layers spinach, tomato, feta, garlic and house-made marinated artichoke hearts.
For diners seeking something more adventurous, Galaxy Pizza offers options such as the cheeseburger-inspired CHZBRGR pizza topped with beef, bacon, pickles, tomatoes, ketchup and mustard, as well as the Get Me The Greek!, featuring gyro meat, feta, olives and garlic sauce. The Everything-Not-Bagel pizza transforms spinach and artichoke dip into a fully loaded pie finished with everything seasoning and chili flakes.
Beyond pizza, the menu expands into comfort-food territory with baked ziti pastas, oven-baked subs, salads, and snackable favorites such as garlic potatoes, breadstix and pizza rolls. House-made sauces—including ranch, garlic sauce and pepperoni chili crisp—allow guests to dip to their heart’s content, while halal-friendly options help make the menu more approachable for a wider range of diners.
Perhaps the most meaningful aspect of Galaxy Pizza, however, extends beyond the menu. After receiving an autism diagnosis at age 45, Calleo says the experience reshaped his perspective and inspired him to become more active in advocacy efforts. Galaxy Pizza will serve as a platform to support autism awareness and community initiatives, giving the restaurant a purpose that reaches beyond hospitality.
This weekend’s grand opening celebration will feature giveaways, prizes, and a Street Fighter II tournament, with the winner earning free Galaxy Pizza for a year—a fitting tribute to the restaurant’s retro-inspired spirit.
For Calleo, Galaxy Pizza represents both a return to the fundamentals of great neighborhood pizza and the beginning of a new chapter. In a dining landscape often focused on novelty, the concept succeeds by offering something simpler: a welcoming place built around good food, shared experiences, and personal connection.
“Galaxy Pizza is really about creating a place that feels familiar and welcoming while also being true to who I am,” Calleo said in a press release. “Getting diagnosed with autism later in life changed a lot for me, and I hope this restaurant can become a positive space that not only serves great pizza, but also finds ways to advocate for and support others. This one is really special to me for lots of reasons, and I cannot wait to share Galaxy Pizza with the Spring community.”
Galaxy Pizza will be open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
6450 Louetta Rd., Spring, galacticpizzaportal.com
