Second Avenue is about to get a little cheesier. Upside Pizza has signed a lease for a busy corner at the intersection of Second Avenue and East 78th Street, setting up what will be the brand’s first shop on the Upper East Side. The fast-growing slice chain is known for its naturally leavened sourdough crusts and late-night hours that pull in commuters and neighborhood night owls, and the new outpost is poised to give the area a more premium grab-and-go option in a neighborhood that has long been light on late-night, ingredient-focused slice spots.
As reported by East Side Feed, Upside has inked a deal for 1501 Second Avenue at East 78th Street, with that report noting a post from @TradedNY announcing the transaction. East Side Feed also notes that it has reached out to Upside for an estimated opening date and plans to update its coverage once the company weighs in.
Upside's Footprint And Approach
On its website, Upside lists multiple locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn and spotlights its sourdough crust, homemade mozzarella and late operating hours, all signs of what Upper East Siders can likely expect from the new corner shop. Eater NY reported that founder Noam Grossman opened the first Garment District location in 2019 and has since expanded the concept, adding related ventures such as Softside ice cream and the Soupside soup counter. That mix of nostalgic design and long-fermented dough has helped Upside grow from a Port Authority adjacent corner into a multi-site grab-and-go brand.
What This Could Mean For The Upper East Side
Reviewers have praised Upside’s long-leavened dough and brick-lined hearth oven as an elevated take on the classic New York slice, suggesting that the chain’s arrival could quickly find fans on the Upper East Side. Gothamist highlighted the 72-hour dough fermentation and Montague hearth bake when Upside first debuted, noting how those methods shape the crust’s texture and char. For now, East Side Feed reports that the lease is signed but points out that Upside has not yet publicly announced an opening date, so locals will have to wait for the company’s official word.
We will update this story once Upside confirms a timeline. Until then, Upper East Siders craving late-night slices can start making room in their rotation for one more stop.
