Yorkville's Munchies Korner Restaurant Closes, To Be Replaced By Pizza

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Only about eight months after it officially opened, Munchies Korner has closed the doors to its Yorkville restaurant — but owner Jacques Ouari is already plotting a replacement.

The eccentrically-named eatery had opened in February on Third Avenue and East 85th Street, serving small bites, hearty Italian classics, and cocktails with names like "Naughty Butterfly" and "Quickie."

But Ouari confirmed this week's closure, which was first reported by Upper East Site, saying the restaurant had not managed to attract its target demographic: young people.

"For some reason we were not doing good," Ouari told Patch. "Third Avenue seems a little challenging at night — we were not getting enough business to keep going."

The restaurant won positive reviews during its brief lifespan. But Ouari, who is also the namesake owner of next-door Jacques Brasserie, conceded that some customers may have been confused by the restaurant's name, which was conceived by his teenage son.

The storefront will not sit empty for long. By mid-October, Ouari aims to open a new business in the space: Giacomo's Pizza and Restaurant.

Giacomo's (which translates to Jacques) will serve pizza with a "French influence," Ouari said — serving up basic slices as well as more creative toppings like artichokes and vegan products.

Entrées will include chicken parmesan, lasagna, light salads and winter soups, and treats like Nutella pizzas that might appeal to kids leaving school in the afternoon, he said.

Giacomo's could open as soon as the second week of October, having already secured the requisite pizza ovens, Ouari said.

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