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Eat your heart out. A locally owned and operated pizzeria is opening on Valentine’s Day in Stow.
New York to Chicago Pizzeria, located at 4320-1 Kent Road, opens its doors Feb. 14.
Stow shoppers visiting Target, Kohl’s and other stores in the plaza can place an order at a new pizzeria and have their meal ready to pick up afterward. If dining inside, patrons can take in the metropolitan-themed interior.
Owner Ken Long, of Kent, said the initial menu of salads and original-recipe pizzas, including gourmet pizzas such as Italian white, will grow to include traditional pastas and sandwiches.
Long is a former Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos player who retired in 2005 as the associate athletic director at Kent State University and was a high school athletics director for five years.
“The style of sauce John [Calanni] makes here, he developed himself. It’s not just out of a can, or bottle. That’s what makes this kind of a unique concept,” Long said.
Calanni, who has developed his recipes through more than two decades in the restaurant industry, described his philosophy.
“When you think of pizza, you think of two things: New York, thin crust; Chicago, deep dish. We wanted to have one place that had crusts from all those styles. That’s why we have a taxicab. So, you can travel around,” he said.
Calanni referred to the actual drivers-side panel of a former New York taxi that is the centerpiece of a colorful, 6-foot-6-inch by 30-foot mural covering one of the walls of the establishment.
“We want to create the big-city atmosphere as far as the pizza goes, but with the theme you see here,” said Calanni.
Long’s wife, Nancy, who is Calanni’s sister, approached Standing Rock Cultural Arts in Kent last year about designing and creating a mural for the establishment, said Jeff Ingram, the executive director of the non-profit art and educational organization.
Lead artists Rebecca Chou and Cynthia Lynn, David Jerome Bragg and Ingram, all of Kent, as well as Calanni, who installed the taxi panel, worked with six volunteers to paint the mural, investing a collective total of more than 150 hours in its creation. James Cage, of Akron, designed the mural, said Ingram.
Ingram said he enjoyed the collaboration.
“I hope everybody comes away with something different from it, but it’s a very lively street scene, downtown Chicago or New York, with a beautiful sunset,” he said.
With an initial staff of 15 employees, and a menu that Long described as “competitively priced,” the pizzeria has dine-in and carry-out service but does not make deliveries.
Initial hours for New York to Chicago Pizzeria are: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The pizzeria is closed on Sunday.
For more information, call New York to Chicago Pizzeria at 330-686-6922.
Chris Tommasi
8:30 am on Monday, February 14, 2011
I live in Stow but am a New Yorker so I will be checking this place out for sure! To me there is nothing in the world that is as good as New York pizza and if this place is what they say it is, they will have loyal customers for life! Chris T.
Amanda Harnocz
10:25 am on Monday, February 14, 2011
Chris, let us know how the food is when you visit! Hope it's a taste of Lombardi's right here in Stow. I think I'll schedule a restaurant review for this eatery soon!
Connie Hiller
1:47 am on Saturday, February 26, 2011
Oh, dear....don't waste your time people. These owners obviously have never had either New York or Chicago pizza. Possibly the worst pizza I have ever had. I don't know what they were thinking with the sauce. Bless their hearts...they'll be closed within a year at best.
NY2C
11:22 pm on Monday, February 28, 2011
Are you sure you went to the same place??? I lived in Chicago for 13 years as a saleswoman. I traveled all over the country as part of my job. And I must say that New York to Chicago's pizza was even BETTER than the pizzas in Chicago. It reminds me of home. I can't wait to try their New York pizza. And as for their sauce, it was phenomenal! Their pizza was better than Lou Malnati's pizza in Chicago! I absolutely recommend New York to Chicago to EVERYONE!!!
Morgan Stallone
12:13 am on Tuesday, March 1, 2011
I live on the East Coast and travel quite frequently to both New York and Chicago for work. In saying this, I have had pizza from both cities. We went to the New York to Chicago Pizzeria this evening for dinner and could not decide which pizza to get. We decided on the New York thin pizza and enjoyed it so much that we ordered the Chicago deep dish pizza to take home. Anyone who really knows the true taste of the New York pizza and Chicago pizza will love this place. You can tell that the quality of the ingredients are SUPERB from the first bite. We are customers for life. Thanks NY2C for bringing EXCELLENT pizza to the area!!!
Amanda Harnocz
3:55 pm on Saturday, February 26, 2011
Maybe it's just pizza preference? I like Pizza Hut, but my boyfriend thinks it's the worst pizza ever.
Carol Benton
2:46 pm on Tuesday, March 1, 2011
I thought the pizza was super, but I think I even like the place better than the pizza. The decor is sooo cool. You sure know your not in Pizza Hut. The taxi on the wall and the mural were awesome!!! We had the New york style, but my kids and I are going to try the the Chicago next time. It's fun to have a place that's not some same old kinda chain thing.
Joe Earley
7:04 pm on Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tried NY2C pizza for first time tonight. It's OK. Probably not the best pizza I've ever had, but it's not bad. It's good to have another option in the area.
Andrew D
7:20 am on Saturday, March 12, 2011
First off, I want to let you know that I'm a pizza snob. I don't really like any of the pizza locally (I can live with Marco's, Gioninos and Zeppes). I typically prefer NY style thin crust pizza. I took my family there last night and ordered a New York style (pepperoni) and a Chicago style (italian sausage). It was the best pizza I have had in some time.
Both pizzas were excellent. The pepperoni on the NY pizza was the most flavorful I have ever had. Both styles were a hit with my family but overall we liked the NY style the best. The wait staff were courteous and friendly. I will be back to sample the Sicilian style soon.
Highly recommended.
Amanda Harnocz
12:20 pm on Saturday, March 12, 2011
Our next restaurant review by Kyle Nelson will be on Pancho and Lefty's Friday, but I'm sending him to NY2C for a review next. I might have to join him... :)
jackie
12:20 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Most pizza places in Ohio claim to have NY style- but never come close- it's al generic, ohio style med crust- pizza hut type pizza. I'm from the east coast and I'm in pizza hell- so I really hope this place is really authentic. Ohio stinks for food and I can't wait to move back to NY.
Michelle F
1:08 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
I will have to try this pizza, did not know it had opened yet. I heard from employees at the fairlawn Old Carolina that Stow was getting one in the spring possibly on Kent Road. Does anyone have any more information???
Kyle Nelson
4:10 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Michelle -
According to Old Carolina's website, the 4326 Kent Rd. location will be opening soon.
Amanda Harnocz
1:10 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Hi Michelle F. : It is open. Here is our restaurant review: http://patch.com/A-gjtB
debbie fulton
11:46 pm on Monday, December 26, 2011
Michelle, I heard the Old Carolina place is AWESOME! It IS on Kent Rd. in behind the Panera Bread/ Chipotle plaza, back toward Five Below but on the right side plaza. Check it out. I have heard nothing but great things about it. We might try the NY/ Chicago style pizza place tomorrow night.