The Rectory

The house at 1920 Atkinson sat empty for close to thirty years. It was built as the rectory for the church next door — the one that’s been The Congregation since 2020 — so when the same partners went looking for a next project, the obvious building turned out to be the one they’d been walking past the whole time. They opened The Rectory inside it in fall 2025.

What came out is a pizza restaurant that behaves like a neighborhood living room. Hand-tossed pies on locally sourced ingredients, red, white, and pesto bases, build-your-own if you’re particular, plus vegan and gluten-free options, salads, and panuozzo — the Italian sandwich made by baking pizza dough, folding it over, and stuffing it. There’s a compact dining room, a three-season back deck, and a walk-up window for carryout, plus a shared greenspace connecting it to the café, so an evening can start with a slice and drift toward whatever’s happening next door. Worth the trip on its own, better as a pair, and firmly on our list of Detroit spots we’re circling.