Two Boots


Two Boots is a chain of pizzerias based in New York City. The chain is owned by Phil Hartman and his son Leon, and is named after the boot-shaped country of Italy and US state of Louisiana. The chain is inspired by New Orleans with Cajun ingredients and New Haven foods, and by East Village with its eccentric ambiance. The business first opened in 1987. In 2017, the business had 15 locations.
Each location has its own distinctive characteristics, incorporating elements of the neighborhood, with artist commissions for murals, mosaics, and sculptures to feature in an individual pizzeria. As well, each location has a unique menu item that pays homage to its community; for example, the Hogwallop pie in the Park Slope, Brooklyn location was named after a character in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, played by Park Slope resident John Turturro.
The pizza is inspired by New Haven-style pizza, with cornmeal embedded in its crust.

History

In 1987, Phil Hartman opened the first location along with his ex-wife Doris Kornish and real estate developer John Touhey. They opened in a part of East Village in Manhattan, a neighborhood known for its drug-dealing at the time. The chain slowly grew around Manhattan.