(Google Maps)
It’s been brought to our attention that Cafe Viva Gourmet Pizza has permanently closed. Located at 2578 Broadway between 97th and 98th streets, Cafe Viva first opened in 1992 and has since been a popular destination for those seeking gluten-free and vegan slices.
Owner Tony Iracani emailed ILTUWS the following statement on Monday, August 29:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″] To all the friends of Cafe Viva–It has been a privilege to serve this community for 30 years. With your patronage, we made it through the most challenging times. I am sad to say that now due to circumstances beyond our control we have to close. I am grateful to everyone who came through our doors. Wishing you good health and all the best!
Tony
[/perfectpullquote]
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When we asked for more details, Tony said they’d “just [fallen] too far behind in the last couple years and found it impossible to catch up. We tried as best we could, because I’m aware that a lot of people have depended on us for many years for healthier eating options, and did not want to let them down. Unfortunately we just could not keep up with the rising expenses.”
Per his LinkedIN page, Iracani is “a holistic health advocate and lecturer for over 25 years.” His other company is called Viva Herbals, which sells a variety of green teas.
I was literally there on Saturday night. What a shock. Seemed as busy as pre Covid.
A lot of these old school businesses are just hanging on until their long-term commercial leases expire. Daniellos too closed like that.
That is concerning. Leases are usually quite long, so this may be a long term issue as stores steadily close over the next 5-10 years. There are so many empty stores that have been empty for over a year.
The best pizza ever – really sad! Always went there when we were in the city.
Me too. Took the kids there this past Friday for lunch and yesterday ordered 2 larges to help get through the week. It was the best place to take the kids for lunch and have everyone happy and healthy. They also helped us get through the pandemic when we were all home all week- we would order several larges and freeze them for the week.
Twenty years ago when I was a student at Columbia I first started going to Cafe Viva, also would go while I was in graduate school on the Upper East Side. It was part of what I looked forward to when I moved back to the UWS six years ago.
Over 20 years, it didn’t lose its quality or feel, this didn’t change at all.
The last pizzas we had yesterday were just like the first I had 20 years ago.
I’ve been going at least once a week since it opened – including over the past year since we moved further uptown. IMHO unmatched pizza – vegetale was legend- and healthy. I ordered so many times over the past 30 years that when I provided my phone number for delivery, it crashed the system.
The people who worked there were super helpful and friendly- I hope they land on their feet.
Very sorry to hear about this
Agreed with the other comments, this is a loss for the neighborhood. We are blessed to have a few good pizza options around, but nothing like the creative and healthier options offered by Viva. I wasn’t there from their beginning, but I’ve been a happy customer since 1995. Sorry to see them go!
I have been eating there since they opened 30 years ago, with Tony in the kitchen.
Great Pizza that was vegetarian, healthy and kosher. Viva will be missed by many.
Been going there since 1998 but I went there last weekend by chance and I knew something was up. It wasn’t the same. They didn’t carry our staple anymore, and had no real explanation to offer. The other slices were OK but we felt the cheese was partly powdered cheese and the flavor wasn’t great. What can you expect on their last day, but I left thinking I would not go back. Still, it was a treat for many years and I’m sorry overall.
Heartbreaking.
Along with Mana, Ozu, and Candle Cafe West, the UWS has lost another health food restaurant.
Landlords have been increasing rents beyond the reach of most–tripling them–they are destroying New York!
As long as landlords get a tax break for vacancies, this will continue.
No loss. Their cashiers loved to ignore you while talking on their phone or looking at their phone, and gave me incorrect change too many times to count. Good riddance.
It’s open today. What gives? A worker making pizzas, customers inside…
Too sad!!! We depended on them for healthy Kosher vegetarian pizzas!!! Bella was the favorite in our home!
I’m really sorry to hear this. I was a regular–for years. Great pizza (and great vegan entrees). I will try to go to his other places but the UWS will miss Cafe Viva.