Sorry, too tired to go in depth on this subject, just opened our third store. Read this slowly and carefully: THERE IS NO COAL BAN IN NEW YORK CITY. PERIOD. Doesn't mean you'll get approved for one, nothing is sure with the NYC Health Dept. and Building Dept. Grandfathered in is a JOKE. Do you think the new Grimaldi's, now located in a #*%$ FORMER BANK had a coal burning oven grandfathered in? Do you think the various Anthony's Coal Oven Pizzerias magically found locations that had coal ovens built in a previous existence?
I know it's a myth. I helped perpetuate it when I reopened Lombardi's. The New York Times bought it hook line and sinker but then again Eric Asimov is not the brightest guy in the world, nor is he big on doing, you know, journalistic research. Come to think about hasn't the Times gotten caught for out and out made up stories? Yes they have. It's a #*%$ rag like most things that pass for "news".
This myth is the same as New York City water being essential. Nice marketing trick but a total falsehood.
And anthracite coal, which everyone uses, BURNS CLEANER THAN WOOD. Anyone hear of a NY City ban on wood? Didn't think so.
The new Grimaldi's had their coal oven disapproved because their contractor is a first class scumbag who failed to include it on the architectural plans. They got caught and wound up paying $50,000 to get it approved.
I've got a ton more stories like that, but it's late and I'm not in the mood for a trip down memory lane tonight.