By Jacqueline Olson
Although the sign at Koronet Pizza on Broadway may read a “small” slice of pizza is three dollars, this one piece of the pie is nowhere near the typical small that comes to mind. In fact, longtime Koronet Pizza cook Sam said one small piece at Koronet is the equivalent of two regularly sized slices at a commercial pizza place.
Open since 1981, Koronet Pizza has been a local favorite for its cheap prices, good food, and even better portions.
Sam has been an employee for 15 of those 40 years and notices a continuity in terms of the pizzeria’s allure.
“People come in because they like the pizza. People come in because of the big slices,” said Sam, who was eager to return to engaging with the community from behind the counter.
As Sam ducked back to the kitchen, customers piled in at 10:30 a.m. and formed a line almost extending outside the small restaurant for warm, gooey slices from one of their 32 inch pizza pies.
“I’ve only gotten a regular one because that’s all I can handle, a jumbo. I didn’t even know they made a smaller one,” said customer Ivan. “It’s the perfect portion for me, instead of two slices.”
The supposedly “perfect portion” is approximately three and a half times the size of their small slice.
“I’ve seen people eat two [jumbo slices]. I try eating one and I can only get halfway, so I don’t know how they did two,” said employee Antonia Sanchez.
This sizable portion is what customer Peter and the employees believe makes Koronet different from the other pizzerias in New York
“I think [people choose this pizza place] because of the size of the pizza. Every time they come in, they’re like, ‘I’ve never seen a slice this big before,’ so they keep coming back for the slices,” said Sanchez. “The pizza really is our defining characteristic.”
While she believes it is primarily the pizza that draws customers in, Sanchez also notes a unique sense of conviviality in the neighborhood that Koronet aims to mirror.
“The employees are always nice. They’re passionate,” said Ivan.
A large percentage of their customers, Columbia students continue to dine at Koronet throughout the day, but also throughout varying stages of their lives.
“Now they bring their kids like, ‘Look, the pizza’s still here. This is where your dad used to eat late at school.’ And the kids get really excited, they’ve never seen a slice that big,” said Sanchez.
However, this consistently unchanging pizzeria recently faced a transition. Two months ago, previous owner Nick Manikis sold the Greek family-owned business of two generations to new owner Steve Troya.
Sanchez, who worked with Troya for ten years previously at now closed restaurant Rosa’s Pizza, came to Koronet with Troya in search of a new milieu.
“[We chose this place] I guess because of the neighborhood, we just wanted a different place from 14th Street, it’s more friendly here,” said Sanchez. “Over there people had attitudes, but here everyone is so friendly. They’re so nice.”
Despite the potential of discomfort in changing this traditional hub with the arrival of a new owner, Sanchez is confident in his determination to keep Koronet Pizza true to its roots.
“[He may add] a couple of different pizzas, new pizzas, but definitely keeping the originals from here,” said Sanchez. “He’s definitely going to keep the pizza slices [so big], that’s what keeps the people coming back, so why change it?”
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