As if things weren't confusing enough when it comes to the name Ray's and the world of pizza. The New York Times chronicles the move of Ray's Real Pizza, once a Times Square pizzeria whose customers included (at some time or other) Alec Baldwin, Puff Daddy Diddy Dude, and Dom DeLuise.
The story mostly details how the former Times Square location attracted celebs and how the new Hazlet digs are devoid of famous eaters: "The Russo brothers keep a camera under the counter just in case a celebrity happens to stumble in. Some customers claim they’ve seen Jon Bon Jovi, the drummer Max Weinberg and Bruce Springsteen drive by."
Given the way that most pizzerias (and restaurants in general) seem to exaggerate star appearances, it's hard to tell if Ray's Real Pizza was ever a celeb magnet, but when you're touting a Max Weinberg drive-by, things have definitely slowed down in the limelight department.
Truth Hammer: The First Ray's
Also, I've gotta bring out the Truth Hammer here. You may see some other websites (ahem, Grub Street) getting confused and dubbing Ray's Real Pizza "the actual original Ray's Pizza," but that is far from the case. Ray's Real is said to have opened "in the late 1970s," according to today's Times story. Compare that to this nugget from the Times archives:
Documents gathered during the Rays' legal battle show that there was no Ray's Pizza listed in the 1959 Manhattan telephone book. That was the year Ralph Cuomo, the 22-year-old son of immigrants from southern Italy, opened a pizzeria in Little Italy, using his mother's recipe.
It was at 27 Prince Street, between Mott and Elizabeth Streets, on the first floor of a building that his family lived in and owned. The next year's telephone book listed the name: Ray's Pizza.
The truth hammer scores again. You can check out the proof at the New York Historical Society, which has phone books and business directories dating back to the 1800s. Ralph Cuomo missed the 1959 deadline, so Ray's on Prince Street didn't make it in until the following year. Interestingly enough, 31 Prince (two storefronts west of Ray's) used to be a Ray's Luncheonette back in the 1930s. In fact, it was one of ten or so Ray's Luncheonettes. As far as I know, none of them claimed to be famous or original.
I pass Ray's Real on my way to my in-laws "down the shore" and would love to hear from any Monmouth County slice readers about whether Ray's merits a stop. While you're at it, let me know your favorite Monmouth County pizzeria.
@famdoc> I was on my way out of N.J. (Middletown) headed to Charlotte N.C. when Ray's first opened in Hazlet. So I did get to sample and they have excellent pizza. Now I have a funny story for slice readers. My favorite neighborhood joint in the area was Angela's pizza on hwy 36, a stone throw away from Ray's. The original owner of Angela's sold that location and opened up about 18 short miles from my new home here in Charlotte. What luck. Ironic part is that my family who still live in the area (Hazlet) say that Angela's is not the same since the original owner sold that location. Although they say today they enjoy Ray's pizza they also tell me they miss the original Angela's. So - here I am in N.C. ( a state that does not even merit a place on the slice "pizza by location" scroll ) and they reside in N.J. and are jealous of the pizza I get to eat in the (GASP) South. We laugh about this.
I sure do miss trips "down the shore" but at least I have good pizza.
FYI - I use to work in a store on hwy 35 and Jon Bon Jovi was a customer.
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The truth hammer scores again. You can check out the proof at the New York Historical Society, which has phone books and business directories dating back to the 1800s. Ralph Cuomo missed the 1959 deadline, so Ray's on Prince Street didn't make it in until the following year. Interestingly enough, 31 Prince (two storefronts west of Ray's) used to be a Ray's Luncheonette back in the 1930s. In fact, it was one of ten or so Ray's Luncheonettes. As far as I know, none of them claimed to be famous or original.
ScottWiener at 11:34PM on 12/02/08
I pass Ray's Real on my way to my in-laws "down the shore" and would love to hear from any Monmouth County slice readers about whether Ray's merits a stop. While you're at it, let me know your favorite Monmouth County pizzeria.
famdoc at 10:36AM on 03/13/09
@famdoc> I was on my way out of N.J. (Middletown) headed to Charlotte N.C. when Ray's first opened in Hazlet. So I did get to sample and they have excellent pizza. Now I have a funny story for slice readers. My favorite neighborhood joint in the area was Angela's pizza on hwy 36, a stone throw away from Ray's. The original owner of Angela's sold that location and opened up about 18 short miles from my new home here in Charlotte. What luck. Ironic part is that my family who still live in the area (Hazlet) say that Angela's is not the same since the original owner sold that location. Although they say today they enjoy Ray's pizza they also tell me they miss the original Angela's. So - here I am in N.C. ( a state that does not even merit a place on the slice "pizza by location" scroll ) and they reside in N.J. and are jealous of the pizza I get to eat in the (GASP) South. We laugh about this.
I sure do miss trips "down the shore" but at least I have good pizza.
FYI - I use to work in a store on hwy 35 and Jon Bon Jovi was a customer.
P Zitto1958 at 7:31PM on 07/21/09