Hampden Township-based pizza shop Al's of Hampden — known for its vast craft beer selection, including its own Pizza Boy Brewing line — has started construction on a 9,600-square-foot restaurant and brewery in Pyramid Business Park.

The new location, which is not far from Al Kominski's current shop on Valley Road, will provide five times the seating for the restaurant side of the business and more than quadruple the number of beer taps.

Al's sells more than 350 varieties of beer. Pizza Boy Brewing began in 2011 as a way for Kominski to supplement microbrew demand, which continues to grow and has prompted other restaurants to get in on the act. He began selling craft beers in 2008.

The restaurant is across the intersection with Wertzville Road opposite the Cumberland Technology Park. The current facility is surrounded by construction of stores being built by Weis Markets and Giant Food Stores.

Kominski said the new location should be ready by April.

"It's going to be a big step for us," said Kominski, a Hazleton native who founded Al's of Hampden in 2002.

Millersburg-based Mid Penn Bank is financing the project. COR Construction Services Inc., located in Silver Spring Township, is the general contractor.