Lauded Los Angeles-Based 'Ozzy's Apizza' Opens In East Rock Market

NEW HAVEN, CT — Just when you thought you'd tried all New Haven apizza, another pizzeria has opened another joint to check off the list. And this one, serving New Haven style apizza, is actually based in Los Angeles, albeit created by a native son who knows his ah-beetz.

Ozzy's Apizza is owned Chris Wallace and Craig Taylor. Wallace founded Ozzy’s Apizza in his apartment in 2021 in Glendale, California, out of his desire to bring his home state’s style of apizza to Los Angeles. In 2022, the business, named after Wallace’s dog, quickly expanded to a brick-and-mortar building and Craig Taylor came on board as a co-owner. Ozzy’s Apizza was named one of LA’s best pizzas for the past two years by both the Los Angeles Times and Eater Los Angeles.

Now, he's brought Ozzy's to New Haven, and specifically, to the East Rock Market at 285 Nicoll St., in East Rock.

Ozzy’s will also be one of the 50+ pizza and food vendors serving up slices at the city’s annual Apizza Feast festival happening this Friday evening in Downtown New Haven alongside the New Haven Grand Prix twilight bicycle race.

New Haven’s first food hall, East Rock Market, located within East Rock Center, was opened in 2021 by Rishi Narang. The market features four eateries and a full-service bar: Ozzy’s Apizza, Meat & Company, Rockfish Maki Bar, Ground Up Coffee, and reopening later this month Rick’s Bar. East Rock Center is also home to East Rock Brewing Co., mActivity, Outfront Media, and Whiting-Turner Construction, among other businesses.

On hand for the Thursday ribbon-cutting was Elicker, Cathy Graves, Deputy Director – Small Businesses, Economic Development Administration, City of New Haven, Chris Wallace and Craig Taylor, Owners, Ozzy’s Apizza, Rishi Narang, Owner, East Rock Center and East Rock Market, Colin Caplan, Owner, Taste of New Haven, and Gary Ciarleglio, Vice President of Sales and Relationship Management, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce among others.