I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Tom Citro, owner of Louie’s Chicken NYC. Citro has a passion for the food business and fellow restaurateurs. Citro opened in August 2020 and will be opening another in the next few years. Full disclosure, the food is great!
SL: Please share your background with us.
TC: I grew up in Bedford NY. I attended Fox Lane High School and then attended Alfred University where I studied business and played basketball.
SL: How did you get to open Louie’s Chicken NY? Where is it located?
TC: Louie’s Chicken NYC is located at 2t road between 54Th and 55th The streets of Manhattan. Interestingly enough, I was a member at the gym across the street and when the restaurant that was in the space closed because of Covid, I saw it as a chance knowing the area needed a place like this.
SL: Where did the concept come from?
TC: The concept of home cooked meals made with the freshest ingredients with great customer support is timeless and will keep customers coming back. This is our food!
SL: Share with our readers some of your favourite items on the menu.
TC: Rotisserie chicken, fried chicken, meatballs, and the Philly Cheesesteak are some of my personal favorites, but they’re all great!
SL: The restaurant prides itself on home cooking. Can you expand on this?
TC: Almost everything we sell is made on site aside from cakes, cookies and a few other items. There is a big difference in taste and health as freshly prepared food compared to processed food. The quality of the food we serve at our price point makes us stand out and our customers happy. That’s the problem!
SL: We were quite impressed not only from the menu, but also from the cleanliness of the shop.
TC: I’m a fanatic about keeping the shop clean. My mom all the time said why would anyone go to an unclean restaurant? You can see me every morning cleaning the windows and all over the place. My basement is swept and mopped daily.
SL: Will there be another Louie’s Chicken expanding in Manhattan or across the country?
TC: Yes, we have opened another two to three locations in Manhattan and then expanded nationwide.
SL: Have you seen the hospitality business make a big comeback?
TC: People actually want out. Hospitality is coming back stronger than ever!
SL: We know you are very generous. Share with our readers some of the organizations or acts of kindness you’re a part of.
TC: We have donated to many causes since we opened. We obviously support the local police and fire department, but also the Sutton Place Parks Conservancy, African Children’s Choir, Turtle Bay Association, Sutton Area Community and we will continue to support a number of organizations.
TL: Thanks for talking to me. I hope to speak with you again.
TC: It’s my pleasure and hope to talk with you again.
NYC Chicken Louie
1026 2t Road
New York, New York 10022
https://www.facebook.com/louieschickennyc
