As an avid Star Wars fan, toy collector and 1980s film junkie, Michael Hawes didn’t expect to open his own pizza joint.
But, in 2024, he opened Darkside Brick Oven Pizza Co., a restaurant concept that blended all of his favorite ideas together in a scenic spot off of Hwy. 46, just outside Boerne.
Beginning his collection at age seven, Hawes said he now has “one of the largest private Star Wars collections in the world.”
Then, after working in the film industry for several years and even directing some of his own features, Hawes said he wanted to do something else with his passion for Star Wars and the 1980s.
“We were thinking of how cool it would be if we could create this place, this nostalgia where people could come in and be taken back,” Hawes said.
Along with his wife, Denice, also an avid collector, the pair decided on a pizza joint.
“In my humble opinion, the 1980s were the best time to grow up as a kid,” Hawes said. “This is my childhood in a box.”
Darkside Brick Oven Pizza Co. is filled to the brim with 80s memorabilia—life-size statues of Star Wars characters like, Luke Skywalker, hang from the ceiling while movie posters from era flicks line the walls.
“Even though it's named after Star Wars, it’s everything from the 1970s, 1980s,” Hawes said.
As for the food, Hawes travelled all over the country to find what style of pizza would work best for the eatery's menu.
“We travelled from Connecticut to New York and Arizona to California,” Hawes said.
He settled on an eclectic mix of New York-style pies, ranging from simple build-your-own pizzas to specialty styles like BBQ brisket ($22) and white margherita ($20).
Additionally, there are salads, appetizers, deli sandwiches and a variety of desserts like the Darkside Iron Skillet Cookie ($8).
“We make everything in-house, from the dough to the sauce,” Hawes said.
Growing up in San Antonio, Hawes said he wanted to settle down close by in Boerne.
“It’s a great little town,” he said. “We built this for the passion of the 80s and the people here are certainly sharing that love with us in droves.”
It’s not just people from the area showing up, either. Hawes said he’s seen people fly from California to experience the nostalgia the pizza place has to offer.
In the future, Hawes said he is expanding the eatery—adding a Predator-themed bar and lounge called Darkside After Dark.
The new space will open to the public sometime in November.
- 25 Truss Drive, Boerne
- www.darksidebrickovenpizza.com
