Nov. 11—Pizza Etc. is now open for business at a new location in Pojoaque, almost 15 miles north of its previous location in downtown Santa Fe.

The pizza shop was opened by the Baray and Araiza families at DeVargas Center in 1995. Unable to reach a long-term lease agreement with the mall in July, the owners were given until the end of September to leave. At the time, co-owner Sergio Baray said the business wanted to stay open but needed to find a suitable location.

The owners found Pizza Etc.'s new location, 68 Cities of Gold Road, in late September through a customer who had a connection to Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder, the pizzeria's new landlord. The 2,400-square-foot space, located in the same building as Jake's Liquor Store, was equipped with a kitchen and everything else the eatery needed to continue serving pizza on Oct. 21.

Baray said he feels optimistic about the new location, especially after months of wondering if the business would even be able to continue.

"It feels really great," Baray said. "[There's] more business; I have my regular customers, new customers, so it's really great."