“Slice Shoppe is something we’ve spoken about since the first day we opened MMC,” Sal Senan tells Broadsheet. “It’s always a concept we’ve had in mind: that full New York-style pizzeria.” It’s moving into the old Barzaari site – which closed in early September following nearly a decade of service on Addison Road in Marrickville.

Senan co-owns pizzeria My Mother’s Cousin, Self Raised Bread Shoppe and its younger counterpart Self Raised Snack Shoppe with friends (and siblings) Amani and Hussein Rachid. “After visiting New York recently, seeing it in person and getting some inspiration – MMC’s a couple of years old now and Self Raised’s doing its thing – we were like ‘We’re ready for it’.”

Mohamad Matar, head chef at Bexley North’s MMC – where the pizza’s a midway point between New York and Neapolitan – is championing a dough recipe he’s been perfecting for months. “This time round we’re going full New York,” he says. “Eighteen-inch pizzas, deck ovens, the whole shebang. Slices, squares, it’s exciting.”

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The team’s on the tools refitting the site themselves – with Amani driving the look. Expect a dining room where “retro Pizza Hut” meets old-school New York pizzerias. That’s timber-clad walls and upholstered booths separated by fluted glass. Meri Biscotto from August Create is on branding, after creating recognisable visuals across the rest of the venues. Logan Thompson, of Good Hand Sign Co, is on artwork and signage.

The energetic team is just back from a slice-fuelled trip to New York, where they ate at 20 or so pizzerias – calling out L’Industrie, Mama’s and Lucali as the best. “We went everywhere. We rented a car and drove three hours out to New Haven – and then waited three hours for a pizza from Sally’s. We love it, so it was easy.”

Slice Shoppe is slated to open at 65 Addison Road, Marrickville, in November 2024.
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