Popular New Haven Pizzeria Closes Its Doors

NEW HAVEN, CT — A longtime popular pizzeria in New Haven closed after more than 50 years in business. Wall Street Pizza & Restaurant, formerly known as Naples Pizza, closed over the weekend, according to the New Haven Register.

A reason for the closing wasn't offered, according to the Register. The restaurant space is owned by Yale University and was known as Yale's original pizzeria. It is on Wall Street between Temple and College streets.

Naples Pizzeria launched in 1948. Besides its thin-crust pizza it specialized in rice pudding and cinnamon toast plus its own special beer, Wall Street Amber Ale. Other menu favorites were the fresh-baked Turkey subs, and a breakfast menu served all day long.

It was a popular spot in the Yale community, and many students have carved names into the wooden dining tables over the decades. Wall Street Pizza has been operating at the same location since 1948. The restaurant always has been family-owned and operated, according to its social media accounts.

In January 2008, The Yale Daily News wrote an in-depth article about Naples Pizza & Restaurant being bought the month befor by Celso Marrichi. At the time of the sale, the historic pizzeria was struggling and Marrichi vowed to modernize it, including expanding its menu.

Rose Prifitera had owned Naples Pizza for 40 years, the Yale Daily News reported. In 2001 the pizzeria lost its liquor license for four years after it was caught selling alcohol to minors, which had a major impact on business, the Yale Daily News reported.

And as we all know, New Haven is the pizza capital of the world, boasting Pepe's, Modern and Sally's Apizza, which are all ranked among the best in the United States, according to the Daily Meal.

See related: 6 CT Pizza Places Among Nation's Top 100 Including The King