Wally Kennedy: New York Pizza & Deli opens downtown

Sep. 29—The New York Pizza & Deli opened Monday in the former Carmine's Pizza at 524 S. Joplin Ave.

It was a soft opening, and the owner, Orlando Bevilacqua, was more than pleased it happened that way.

"When we opened, we did not have some of the things that we thought we had, but we managed," he said. "I'm glad it was a low-key opening."

By midweek, the situation was under control. Rarely does an opening happen without a hitch or two. That's why soft openings can be so important. You often only get one chance to impress a customer.

Bevilacqua, a native of Italy, has put together a menu that reflects decades of experience in the kitchen with pizza and all kinds of Italian dishes. This is not just another pizza joint.

This restaurant features bruschetta and antipasto among its appetizers, and salads ranging from Caprese to chopped Italian and Greek. There are baked pastas, including lasagna, manicotti and ravioli.

You can get calzone or stromboli. There are eight specialty sandwiches, including clubs, hoagies and Reubens. And you can build your own sandwich with deli ingredients. The sandwiches range in price from $11 to $12.

Of course, there's the pizza. Depending on the size, style and toppings, they range in price from $10 to about $20. There are specialty pizzas with names like The Five Burroughs, The NYPD, The Garden State and the Angry Dom. Or, you can build your own 12- or 16-inch versions from a large selection of toppings.

You can dine indoors or on the patio. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For the past seven years, Bevilacqua has operated WiseGuys Italian American Comfort Foods in a small storefront in the Village Plaza shopping center at 3702 E. Seventh St., in Joplin. It has received favorable online reviews. Hours there are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and a little later on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bevilacqua plans to operate both restaurants.

Almost full

If you want to get a room with a view of downtown Joplin, this could be your last chance. The Frisco Station Lofts at the southeast corner of Sixth and Main streets received its certificate of occupancy from the city of Joplin in August of last year. It is now nearing full occupancy.

The owner of the historic property, Dr. Michael Joseph, said in a text this week: "We only have 10 left. We're doing great."

The building has 57 one-bedroom and two-bedroom lofts. Tenants have access to the grand lobby, which first welcomed Frisco Railroad passengers when it opened in 1913, and to a secure parking garage.

Work to restore the city's first multistory office building began in 2018. Neglected repairs had put the building in a tenuous position.

Among the tenants are about 25 students who are enrolled in Joplin's medical and dental schools. The students carpool to school together and have formed a dormitory-like community within the Frisco building.

ArtWalk season concludes

The last First Thursday ArtWalk of the season kicks off at 4:50 p.m. this Thursday with a proclamation by Mayor Doug Lawson in the lobby of City Hall, Sixth and Main streets, in connection with National Arts and Humanities month. The proclamation recognizes ArtWalk artists, musicians, and area nonprofits or for-profits of the Joplin Arts and Humanities community. The public may attend.

The ArtWalk, completing its 16th year, will feature seven venues in downtown Joplin. Receptions are being held for some of the artists.

At the Cornell Complex, 212 W. Seventh St., ArtWalk artists Diane Simonds and Rachel Cabral will be featured in the lobby. In Spiva Center for the Arts, there are shows in four galleries.

Joplin Avenue Coffee Co., 506 S. Joplin Ave., will host "Mexican Essence in the Midwest," by Mauricio Zuniga, who resides in Kansas City. The back room will feature Shawn Riley, Emily Wasson, Olevia Opel and Rose Thornhill. Music will be by Dwayne Smith. At Full Bore Studio, 413 S. Main St., oil paintings by Debbie Judy and Lego paintings by Josh Judy will be shown.

T. Crowe Semler, a midcentury abstract artist, will be featured at Urban Art Gallery, 511 S. Main St. The gallery also features photography by Linda Teeter, mixed media by Stacy Heydt and local works by gallery artisans. Music will be by Tough Luck Chuck.

At 530 Somewhere, 530 S. Main St., the art of Andrew Batcheller will be featured. Club 609, 609 S. Main St., is presenting Eric Beezley and his colorful abstracts. At M&M Bistro, 612 S. Main St., Olivia Teeter will sing and play the ukulele on stage. Tarot card readings will be offered at the front entrance.

Contact Wally Kennedy at wkennedy@joplinglobe.com.