Pizza is a big part of Downtown's resurgence. It must be, because another pizza joint is on the way, this one from a pizza pro with over 20 years in the business and some serious awards and accolades.

Tony Gemignani's Pizza Rock is under construction at the Downtown 3rd site once home to Celebrity Theater. The new 185-seat restaurant should open later this summer, bringing a variety of Italian and American pizza styles along with pasta, calzone, stromboli, antipasti, salads, and extensive beer and wine lists.

"I absolutely love Las Vegas and have many fond memories of the city’s exciting nightlife, food and entertainment scene," said Gemignani in a press release. "I’m especially excited to be in Downtown Las Vegas, an area that is undergoing tremendous renovation and becoming a true destination location."

Gemignani operates restaurants in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood (Pizza Napoletana, Tony’s Coal-Fired Pizza & Slice House and Capo’s) and Sacramento (the original Pizza Rock). He is the only Triple Crown winner for baking at the International Pizza Championships held in Lecce, Italy, and in 2007 he won the title of World Champion Pizza Maker at the World Pizza Cup in Naples, becoming the first American and non-Neapolitan victor. Gemignani received his master credentials from the Scuola Italiani Pizzaioli and is the proprietor of the International School of Pizza where he certifies aspiring pizza chefs from around the world.

Downtown's Pizza Rock will offer different styles of pies, from Neapolitan to Sicilian to Roman. All fresh pasta will be made on-site, as will Sicilian and Calabrese link sausages. You can also expect New York slices, paninis, grinders, meatball subs and house-made vanilla soft serve with creative toppings like olive oil and sea salt, Fernet reduction and seasonal berries. The restaurant is planned to stay open until midnight during the week and until 4 a.m. on weekends.