"After closing more than a year ago, Mid City Pizza is readying to reopen its original Banks Street under new owner Tony Cortello. Thin-crust, New York-style pies are on the menu, of course — Cortello says he’s actually installed a water system that mimics the exact pH and mineral content of New York city water, recreating that true Big Apple taste in the dough. He’s also offering a few Sicilian-style pizzas, Italian sandwiches, salads, and starters, plus wine, beer, and classic cocktails. Cortello says that if all goes as planned, he hopes to open to the public this Friday, March 8. Mid-City Pizza was originally founded by Rand Owens in 2013 — it quickly established itself as a laid-back, cozy staple for thin-crust pizza and old-school arcade games. Owens expanded to a second location in Uptown in 2017. After his death in 2020 at age 33, the restaurant remained open for three years, eventually closing in December of 2022. Cortello and his partners purchased the business last August." - Justine Jones
