stories

All of New York’s best-kept secrets are
hole-in-the-walls. No New Yorker ever
brought their friends for a locals-only
experience to a mega-chain restaurant
with bright, shining neon signs on 42nd
Street. Memorable nights were never
had a Dave and Buster’s.
Joe’s Pizza, stands near a corner of NYC
that managed to retain the seediness
of New York days past. Even as the rent
soars continually higher. No doubt, this
corner was just as grimey as the day Joe
opened shop in ‘75.
In those days, no Spiderman film was
taking over your favorite shop. Cops
coined it Fear City. Tourists ran in fear for
their hotels rooms, trying to make it inside
by 6 o’clock. A slice was closer to a
dollar, and came with a smile to match.
The city was as good as bankrupt and
moved much slower.
In a world overcome with choices,
people find solace in that, at Joe’s the
menu can be read in a quick glance.
No wacky combinations or Frankenstein
slices exist here. You can’t order a taco
or Caesar salad masquerading as a
pizza slice.
There’s no use in describing a pizza