April 29. GOAT Pizza, the new sports-themed restaurant from celebrity chef David Burke, has opened at 9623 Bailey Road. More than 700 people dined there on Saturday and Sunday.

“Creating this menu and curating our sports memorabilia collection has been so much fun,” said Burke, who has served the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi at his restaurants in New Jersey.

The decor pays homage to legendary sports icons with a memorabilia collection that includes Mohammad Ali, Magic Johnson, Christian McCaffrey, Luke Kuechly, Michael Jordan and Steph Curry—most of them signed.

David Burke: Chef meets the press

There are at least two posters that are unsigned, but Burke said there is a hammer on site to break the glass in case one of the icons comes in.

The 4,100-square-foot restaurant is the newest addition to the portfolio of David Burke Hospitality Management properties in North Carolina, joining The Fox & Falcon by David Burke and Port City Club by David Burke. Joe Douglas of 131 Main restaurant in Cornelius and Robert Maynard of Huntersville-based Famous Toastery are collaborating on the venture.

Chef Burke at GOAT