Ops watch at 176 2nd Ave.

There has been activity at 176 Second Ave., including the arrival of a new pizza oven. (Thanks to the EVG reader for the photo!) 

As noted in September, Mike Fadem, the chef and owner behind Bushwick's Ops (and sister pizzeria Leo in Williamsburg), plans to open a Neopolitan-style joint here between 11th Street and 12th Street.

Community Board 3 approved a liquor license for the venture in September. The questionnaire (PDF here) on file at the CB3 website noted that this will be a second Ops location, where the sourdough-leavened pizzas get high marks. (Time Out recently ranked them at No. 5 on a city's best pizza listicle.

No. 176 previously housed Numero 28 Pizzeria Napoletana, which went dark in late 2023 after a 2009 debut.

On the CB3 docket tonight: An outpost of Bushwick pizzeria Ops; longer hours for Penny

Photo by Steven 

Tonight's CB3-SLA committee meeting is on the light side (there are several applicants for places below Houston). 

Here are a few items to note around here...

New Liquor License Applications 

Mike Fadem, the chef and owner behind Bushwick's Ops (and sister pizzeria Leo in Williamsburg), looks to open a Neopolitan-style joint at 176 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

Proposed hours for the space (54 indoor seats, including a 7-seat bar) are noon to midnight Sunday through Thursday, with a 1 a.m. close Friday and Saturday. (Questionnaire here.) 

The sourdough-leavened pizzas at Ops always get high marks... and, FWIW, Time Out recently ranked them at No. 5 on a city's best pizza listicle. 

No. 176 previously housed Numero 28 Pizzeria Napoletana, which went dark in late 2023.

Items not heard at Committee 

• El Diablito Taqueria 

The taco shop at 60 E. Third St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue will be getting a license to serve beer inside the small space. 

• Penny 

You'll likely have a better chance of getting into the raw bar and seafood counter at 90 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. 

According to the paperwork filed on the CB3 website, Penny is extending hours of operation to noon to midnight all days of the week. (Current hours: daily from 5-10:30 p.m.) 

Penny, upstairs from sibling Claud, was just added to the Michelin Guide New York. 

Tonight's meeting is at 6:30. Find the Zoom link here. This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.