INTEL: PIZZERIA MARI IS COMING TO TROY
…. and you can make the soft opening on Sat. Oct. 25 at 11am!
The former Superior Merchandise Superette space next to Touchy Coffee has a new tenant with soon-to-open Pizzeria Mari from pizzaolo Alex Chronopoulos, a New Jersey transplant whose father has owned and operated a bagel shop for 30 years.
I try to keep tabs on all signs of food life upstate so I had been following @CTRL+ALT+PIZZA for a while and salivating over the neatly organized, evenly sized pizzas topped with new potatoes, grainy mustard, Jake’s aged Gouda and dill or crispy golden oyster mushrooms and fresno chiles. But what stood out was a passion for quality ingredients - think Forts Ferry Farm, Lovin’ Mama Farm, Collar City Mushrooms, Laughing Earth - so when I saw a lone post announcing @pizzeria_mari, I was excited to connect the dots. I caught up with Alex for the early scoop.
— SDP
New ‘za on the block: A “Tri-state” style pizza lands in the Collar City.
Pull up to the new Pizza Mari in downtown Troy on weekends from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with hours soon expanding.
Pizza Mari 625 River Street, Troy Visit
When did you come to Troy?
I've been in Troy for the past 8 years and can't imagine living anywhere else since moving up here. There's so much great food, amazing people doing all sorts of interesting things, and the access to incredible produce at the farmer's market is unbeatable. Probably against better judgement, I have no restaurant experience! My father has owned an operated a bagel shop back in Jersey for the past 30 years though, so I have some idea of what I'm getting into. I'm staking my life's savings from working in IT to chase this dream of running my own pizzeria!
What kind of pizza are you making?
I’ll be doing what I’ve been calling “Tri-state”-style round pizza. I grew up in New Jersey in the suburbs of NYC and also traveled to New Haven for pizza often, so my pies are kind of a mix of all those influences. The dough uses a blend of five organic flours and I am excited to be working with local upstate NY producers Wild Hive Community Grains Project and Farmer Ground Flour for a portion of the blend. My trusty sourdough starter that has been with me the past 15 years baking at home leavens the dough. I hope to expand my hours and offer the Detroit-inspired squares soon!
Where exactly are you located and what are your hours?
The pizzeria is located right next to Touchy Coffee in the space previously used as Superior Merchandise Superette. I’m planning on doing a soft opening with a limited menu on Saturday 10/25 starting at 11 a.m., then I’ll be open on weekends from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Thank you so much for the support!” - AC
