In a flavorful addition to Saskatoon's vibrant Broadway Avenue, business partners Graham Kerr and Dylan Bray have launched Paradox Pizzeria & Brewery, a unique establishment dedicated to a distinct style of pizza and in-house crafted beers. The duo officially opened their doors in July 2025, realizing a long-held dream to create a space where community and quality food converge.
From Pop-Up Dreams to Broadway Reality
The journey to opening Paradox was a gradual and passion-fueled process. Graham Kerr, with extensive experience in the restaurant industry and a background in selling craft beer across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, teamed up with Dylan Bray, an avid home brewer. "We jokingly talked about (opening our own place) for years," Kerr revealed. The concept began to take tangible shape when the owners of Amigos Cantina generously allowed them to use their kitchen on off-days to host pop-up pizza events.
These pop-ups, which ran for about three years, served as a critical testing ground. The positive reception and growing customer base confirmed their belief that there was an appetite for their unique offering in Saskatoon. This validation gave them the confidence to seek out a permanent location and transition from working for others to becoming their own bosses.
The Art of Detroit-Style Pizza
At the heart of Paradox's menu is its signature Detroit-style pizza, a style previously uncommon in the city. Kerr explains its unique origin and characteristics. "Being the Motor City, they had these old tool pans that were blue steel... Someone had the great idea to make a pizza in it," he said, describing the high-walled, rectangular pans that give the pizza its distinctive shape.
The pizza itself features a light and airy, focaccia-style dough. The key differentiator is the cheese, which is spread wall-to-wall. During baking, the cheese touching the edges of the pan caramelizes and becomes hard and crunchy, creating a delightful contrast with the soft, chewy center. This focus on a specific style was intentional. "There are so many pizza places in Saskatoon, so if we were opening up a pizza restaurant we wanted to make sure it was a little bit unique," Kerr noted.
Craft Beer and a Commitment to Freshness
Complementing the pizza is a selection of beverages that highlights local craftsmanship. Paradox features its own unique blend of beers and stocks a variety of other Saskatchewan-based liquor products. A limited off-sale selection is also available for customers to enjoy at home.
The commitment to quality extends beyond the beer taps. "Everything we do is handmade in-house, from making the dough to the sauce to making our own sausage," Kerr emphasized. This includes popular menu items like the Trismegistus, a three-meat pizza with house-made sausage, prosciutto, and pepperoni, and the McKenna, a three-cheese and roasted garlic option featuring feta, parmesan, and mozzarella. While this from-scratch approach is more time-consuming, the partners believe it is essential for delivering superior quality and flavor.
For Kerr and Bray, the ultimate reward is seeing their vision come to life. "I'm happy to make people's day. Seeing people enjoy the atmosphere and the food is what we were intending the space to be," Kerr shared, encapsulating the community-focused spirit of their new Broadway venture.
