Oct. 28, 2013 By Christian Murray
A new pizzeria that is opening on Vernon Blvd this February will be a big draw for Long Island City’s kids, the new owner predicts.
“The rear year is large and is ideal for children’s pizza parties,” said Tom Blaze who will open the 47-23 Vernon Blvd restaurant. “This is what attracted me to opening it.”
Blaze said Long Island City is a neighborhood where there are plenty of children, yet there are few places for them to have a party. “Nothing beats a pizza party, where the kids can make their own pizza.”
The rear yard is roughly 1,200 square feet, the same size as the interior.
The pizzeria will be for casual dining and there will not be table service. However, he said that he will be renovating the interior–to ensure the decor is inviting. He said he will completely transform the store’s existing frontage.
Blaze said the focus will be on pizza, although he will sell salads, sandwiches, mozzarella cheese and bread.
Blaze said the mozzarella cheese will be made in-house. Meanwhile, the bread will be locally produced. “We aim to keep all our products as local and organic as possible,” he said.
Blaze grew up and lives in Long Island City. He is a broker at Modern Spaces, about a block away from his new pizzeria on Vernon Blvd.
“Real estate remains a passion of mine,” Blaze said. He said that he has hired an Italian pizza maker (who has been in New York for the past 10 years) who will come on board when he opens.
Meanwhile, his sister will manage the day-to-day operations.
Blaze said that he plans to call the pizzeria “L’inizio”, which in English means a new beginning.
