When Stefano Coppola and Wilson Ballantyne purchased a light blue, handmade Stefano Ferrara Forni brick oven in April, they put it in storage. Although the two New England Culinary Institute grads had toyed with the idea of opening a pizza business for years, they didn't have a location in mind.

"We both wanted to do it in Barre," said Coppola, who also owns Morse Block Deli. "But we had to find the right space." Now the oven has found its home on the restaurant side of AR Market at 159 North Main Street in Barre. Co-owners Coppola, Ballantyne and Chris Ruiz are leasing the space and will open Pearl Street Pizza by January 1, 2022, executive chef Coppola said.