FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A favorite New York City pizza chain is on its way to the Financial District.
Two Boots Pizza, known for its inventive pizza creations with pies named in tribute to a host of quirky pop culture icons, is set to open its newest shop at 86 1/2 Nassau St., the Commercial Observer reported.
The two-story location will be home to a bar area on the second floor, and owners are aiming to create a rooftop lounge as well, Leon Hartman, who runs Two Boots with his father and the chain's founder, Phil Hartman, told DNAinfo New York.
Two Boots previously had a bar at its Grand Central location, which closed in January, and Hartman said they hope to hire back at least some of the staff who'd worked there.
"We're really excited to finally have a space we love down here," Hartman said. "It's a growing, changing neighborhood, and one that we think is lacking in premium pizza."
Hartman said they'd been looking for several years for a Financial District location but couldn't find a place that they loved.
This building is more than 100 years old and "has a special character," Hartman said. "There are these amazing coppered ceilings on the second floor, a second floor that was just used as storage by the previous tenant."
The building had been occupied for many years by a clothing store called Lily's Boutique. Hartman said the building was years ago inhabited by a candy store, and the new Two Boots will pay homage to the original neon sign outside with its own neon lettering.
The pizza restaurant, which combines Cajun and Italian flavors — and is named for the similar geographical shapes of Italy and Louisiana — recently celebrated the 29th anniversary of its first shop, opened on Avenue A in 1987.
The FiDi location, slated to open in October, will be the Two Boots 17th storefront.
