Across from the main entrance of Baruch College’s William and Anita Newman Vertical Campus on East 24th Street, Lexington Famous Pizza opened for business on Feb. 25.
It opened nearly a year after ViVi Bubble Tea, the location’s previous occupant, was shut down by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for operating without a permit.
The pizzeria prices its plain slices at $1.99 and toppings range from $3.49 to $3.75. According to Yelp, a cheese slice at the nearby La Vera Pizzeria is $3.25 and $3.00 at Tutto Mia Pizza Restaurant, making it the cheapest option within a four-block radius. The cheapest deal near campus used to be Pick & Pay Pizza and Indian Food’s $1.49 slice, but the restaurant closed in June 2023.
“We have very good deals for the students, very cheap,” store manager Ruman Khan told The Ticker. “You can get two slices and a soda for $5. You can get two pepperoni and soda for $7.50.”
Khan added that the shop offers special catering prices for student organizations. “You guys are our first priority,” he said. “If you do any catering, we have different prices and good deals.”
Lexington Famous Pizza’s menu boasts over 20 types of pies, including pepperoni, Hawaiian and margarita. Fresh mozzarella and buffalo chicken ranch are the most popular picks. It also offers beef patties, chicken rolls and brownies.
According to Khan, everything — from the sauce to the dough to the cheese — is made from scratch and in-house.
The convenient location and affordable pricing make it an appealing grab-and-go option for students. However, its menu is not as varied as local competitors who sell pasta, salads and wings. The non-pizza options, like garlic knots and mozzarella sticks, serve more as an appetizer than an alternative.
So far, Khan reports business has been good. He said the proximity to Baruch’s campus was the “biggest reason” behind opening the location. With its limited space and lack of seating, students often take their orders to go and eat on campus.
Pork is not on the menu at Lexington Famous Pizza, nor will it ever be. Although its current beef and chicken suppliers are not halal, the store is aiming to switch to meat that complies with Islamic dietary laws.
“A lot of students are asking for halal [options],” Khan said. “We will try to make it halal maybe another month.”
Lexington Famous Pizza is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
