Ian Glazer: Grand Street Pizza
Lower East Side, Manhattan
New York = pizza. This is where ~the slice~ belongs. You can get dollar slices, gourmet slices, you can even get Detroit or Chicago style slices here now. And yet still, we want more. In a market so saturated you may call him crazy, but Ian Glazer and his partners had a vision for a quality-meets-neighborhood slice shop. Tucked on the corner of Grand Street in Suffolk, Grand Street Pizza is a new staple at its Lower, Lower, East side location. Plus, the place already feels like its been there for years, with its old school NYC feel and bustling in-and-out crowd. We popped into hang out with Ian and his partner Bobby last week, and it felt like we've known them a lifetime. They are our extended family now, and probably yours too. Just stop on by and grab a pepperoni slice.
Full name, age, where are you from?
Ian Glazer, 32, NY/NJ
What was growing up like for you and did you have family meals growing up?
My family moved out of the city to the suburbs when I was young. From what I can remember we ate a lot of meals as a family.
What are your earliest memories of dining out?
Chinese restaurants that no longer exist and the occasional Houlihans dinner.
Was there a definitive moment or person that drew you to the restaurant industry?
I had worked in restaurants since I was kid, doing everything from FOH to delivery. My time spent around food and in the hospitality industry is what influenced me, but I also enjoyed the stories of people like Bourdain and Danny Meyer.
If you could give a piece of advice to someone who wanted to pursue your career, what would it be?
Partner with the right people and try to learn as much about your passion as you can.
What do you think working in this industry during this time has taught you?
Resilience. Trying to open a business when we did (mid pandemic) was a challenge. We have dealt with issues that society has never faced before.
What's your favorite dish/drink on the menu?
I love an OG Cheese slice (with all the fixings). I pair that with a nice cold BK Best Peach Tea.
What is your number one place to go out and eat, what are you ordering?
This is an impossible question to answer. I have so many restaurants I love to dine at, it really depends on what I’m craving.
Word Association
Caffeine | Necessary
Munchies | Always
Shots | Tequila
Condiment | Hot sauce
First Date | Intimate
Home | New York City
Vice | Chinese food
Future | Bright
