New York-Style Pizzeria Rolls into Sunland Park Mall

Traditional New York-style pizza in El Paso? Fuhgettaboutit.

Not since Hello Pizza on Country Club Road in the Upper Valley closed last year after its longtime owner passed away has there been a pizzeria on the west side that specializes in that type of pie made by a true New Yorker.

Until now, that is. New York Pizza Diner is the newest locally owned eatery and it's baking up New York-style pizza in the Sunland Park Mall food court.

What Is New York-Style Pizza?

I love pizza. Frozen, gourmet, chain; put it in front of me and I’ll eat it anytime, anyplace. As far as I’m concerned pizza is a lot like the sexy time; when it’s good, it’s really good and when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good.

But I'm not very well versed on the nuances of Chicago-style, New York-style, Brooklyn, etc., etc. So, what exactly is New York-style pizza?

Wikipedia says it’s “a characteristically large hand-tossed thin crust, crisp only along its edge, yet soft, thin, and pliable enough to be folded in half to eat.” The slices tend to be fairly wide, as well.

NY PD

The family-run pizzeria was started by Frank Powers, an El Paso transplant and New York native, after he determined there weren’t any local pizza joints making an authentic New York style pizza. The only way to satisfy his craving for one was to open his own place.

“We pride ourselves on creating the perfect NY style pizza. Our sauce is a family recipe so you won't find it anywhere else,” declares the New York Pizza Diner website.

The pizza pies are sold whole and by the slice. 'Cheesie Bread Sticks' and breaded meatballs are among the starters offered.

NYPD Pizza is one of a handful of new business, most locally owned, now open or opening soon at Sunland Park Mall. Sun City Kitty expects to open in April in the second-floor space formally occupied by Zales. The cat café, El Paso's first-ever I’m told, will be the place to Zen out with a tea and watch kitties play.

Monkey Rock, an entertainment center offering bowling, mini-golf, a climbing wall, bumper cars, and virtual reality games, is currently renovating some of the space Sears used to be in. They’re targeting a May opening, according to its website.