Say cheese: chizza pop-up continues to rule the roost at the East Village KFC

Today is Day 2 of the two-day "Chizzeria" pop-up at KFC on the SW corner of 14th Street and Second Avenue to promote the U.S. release of its chizza, the brand's chicken-pizza hybrid.

Some chizza history per Food & Wine: 

The chizza, a mashup of fried chicken and pizza, has been on menus in the Philippines since 2015 and has regularly featured at KFC locations in Germany, India, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, and Thailand since then, but it’s never appeared anywhere between our shining seas. 

Today (Saturday) from 1-9 p.m., KFC offers one free chizza per customer (pronounced cheet-za — that second z is silent). 

As we noted on Tuesday, the KFC outpost was getting a makeover... with the east-facing wall adorned with the rather terrifying hey-I'm-pulling-my-face-apart ("Poltergeist" flashback!) Chizza mascot... if SpongeBob SquarePants was spliced with Freddy Krueger...

The KFC returns tomorrow... and the chizza will be on menus nationwide starting Monday.

KFC lost its stripes (and it's NOT closing)

Above photo yesterday by William Klayer 

A fair number of people pointed out the paint job in progress on the SW corner of 14th Street and Second Avenue, home to KFC.

The red-and-white stripes on the Second Avenue side were painted over to make way for an ad for — per KFC insiders — the return of the brand's Chizza. ("The all-chicken, no crust Chizza consists of two zinger fillets of crispy chicken, topped with delectable pizza sauce, molten cheese, a smattering of onions and mixed peppers, finished with an herb sprinkle.") 

Anyway, scenes of the paint-over prompted some speculation that the place was closing... that is not true.

The white and red stripes: The new-look KFC on 14th Street

The KFC on the SW corner of 14th Street and Second Avenue closed earlier this month for interior and exterior renovations...

As a few EVG regulars have noted, the new-look outpost has reopened with a refreshed look featuring KFC's signature white and red stripes on display outside (this pattern replaces the rather drab beige-red combo on the Second Avenue side) ...

The interior now features a wall dedicated to founder Harland Sanders, who started the business in Corbin, Ken., in 1930, billed here as the original celebrity chef... 

Today, we say goodbye to the KFC's Cheetos Sandwich mural on 2nd Avenue and 14th Street

[Photo from June 28]

You likely have taken in that Chester Cheetah-Col. Sanders mural on Second Avenue at 14th Street. (Takes a minute.)

The mural arrived in late June to coincide with KFC's Cheetos Sandwich, the limited-time-only, colon-friendly menu item. The East Village location of KFC was picked to launch the sammy with a special menu featuring Cheetos hot wings, Cheetos-loaded fries and Cheetos mac and cheese. (Sorry — forgot to cover this in late June!)

Anyway, given the limited-time-offer nature of the KFC's Cheetos Sandwich, the mural was only going to be here for a short period of time.

And that time has come... a reader shared this photo...

KFC on 14th and Second now visible from outer space

Courtesy of a weekend paint job.

Photo EXCLUSIVE: Where a window used to be at the KFC on 14th Street and Second Avenue

As my exclusive exclusively noted earlier today, something crashed through the window here at KFC. As our eyewitness's friend exclusively told us: The window on the 14th side "was smashed in, and the furniture, etc. was smashed to smithereens like a car had driven through the window. Anyway, there wasn't any police tape or anything blocking off the area ... "

And here is that first photo, in which I won exclusive bidding rights over Poultry magazine.



And we still don't have any idea of what happened. And they were open for business.

Crash at KFC?

We heard that there was an accident at the KFC on 14th Street and Second Avenue earlier today. No reports of injuries. The restaurant was also likely closed at the time. According to the tipster, the window on the 14th side "was smashed in, and the furniture, etc. was smashed to smithereens like a car had driven through the window. Anyway, there wasn't any police tape or anything blocking off the area ... "

Photos anyone?

Will the Colonel's legacy be remembered in NYC potholes?

To the press release:

KFC COLONEL AND ROAD REPAIR CREW TAKE ADVERTISING TO THE STREETS TO RE-“FRESH” AMERICA’S POTHOLE-STRICKEN ROADWAYS

In Honor of its Freshly Delivered and Prepared Fried Chicken on the Bone, KFC Becomes First-Ever Corporate Sponsor of “Fresh”ly Repaired Potholes in U.S. Cities

Kentucky Fried Chicken Asks Mayors to Nominate U.S. Cities for KFC-Branded Pothole Repair

LOUISVILLE, KY – For more than half a century, KFC has “filled up” its fans with the Colonel’s world famous, freshly prepared fried chicken. Today, in a marketing first, KFC is celebrating its continued dedication to freshness by launching a pilot infrastructure renewal program, becoming the first-ever corporate sponsor of “fresh”ly “filled up” potholes in up to five major cities across the U.S.

The KFC Colonel and his professional road repair crew got started in their hometown of Louisville by filling up potholes and re-freshing roads around the city. KFC also issued an open offer to mayors of cities nationwide, asking them to describe their city streets’ state of disrepair. Four of these lucky cities, chosen at random, will receive KFC’s road re-“fresh”ment, promising citizens a smooth drive that is fit for a Colonel.

In today’s troubled economy, cities across the nation are left with potholes in desperate need of repair. It is estimated that U.S. roads are riddled with more than 350 million potholes nationwide -- that’s one mini canyon for every man, woman and child in America.

“This program is a perfect example of that rare and optimal occurrence when a company can creatively market itself and help local governments and everyday Americans across the country,” said Javier Benito, executive vice president of marketing and food innovation for KFC.

“Everyone could use a little help during these tough economic times and this initiative -– like our commitment to provide affordable, freshly prepared chicken -– is our way of carrying on Colonel Sanders’ legacy.”

An EV Grieve FYI (AKA, Sunday filler)

At 14 Street and Second Avenue. Back open July 3!



I've long been a fan of the random use of quotation marks on signs and in print...(which is why I'm a big fan of The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks.)



Meanwhile! And how can anyone hate the Colonel? Here's why: