Joe's Pizza + Papaya King = Hope?

The recent opening of Joe's Pizza on East 14th Street ...



... and the signs that a Papaya King is coming to St. Mark's Place...



... have been a welcome bit of restaurant/food news for some people ...

Per sam_the_man the the comments yesterday:

First Joe's, now Papaya King? Another win. Could the tide be turning at last?

We heard this same sentiment from others too, either on Facebook or via email. Maybe not every storefront will become, say, a 7-Eleven?

Joe's Pizza opens today on East 14th Street

That's the word from Eater, who got a look inside the pizzeria on Friday. (BoweryBoogie has some interior shots here.) Eater notes that the pizza tastes exactly like what Joe Pozzuoli serves at the Carmine Street location. In other words, no 99-cent or $1 crap.



Joe's takes over the space last used by Naked Pizza...

On the topic of pizza on this stretch of East 14th Street... Cafe Amore still sits empty closer to Fourth Avenue...



The "for rent" signs that went up here in April have been removed, though.

Here's your Joe's Pizza signage on East 14th Street

Well, Joe's Pizza is opening a second NYC location at the former Naked Pizza space on East 14th Street near Third Avenue... Gone is that food-court looking Naked Pizza ...

Here's what New York has to say about Joe's, the Carmine Street pizzeria that has been around since 1975:

It's the epitome of what a slice is supposed to taste like: thin-crusted, with the proper balance of bold sauce and cheese that tastes like cheese, not rubber. Joe's also bakes Sicilian slices and pies, but he doesn't do fancy pie concoctions, heroes, garlic knots, or other diversions.

Perhaps this will bring back some dignity to these $1 slice times ...

From Naked Pizza to Joe's Pizza on East 14th Street

In recent months, we've noted for some reason that Naked Pizza on East 14th Street near Third Avenue has been closed ... turns out that's a permanent closure, though with a promise of a new location.

Meanwhile, The Daily Meal reports that the second location of Joe's Pizza will be taking over this space.

Here's what New York has to say about the Carmine Street pizzeria that has been around since 1975:

It's the epitome of what a slice is supposed to taste like: thin-crusted, with the proper balance of bold sauce and cheese that tastes like cheese, not rubber. Joe's also bakes Sicilian slices and pies, but he doesn't do fancy pie concoctions, heroes, garlic knots, or other diversions.

H/T Grub Street