Pizza worshippers, take note. When the collection of shops and restaurants known as the Limelight Marketplace debuts inside the landmark Chelsea church at 47 W. 20th St. in mid-April, it will house Manhattan’s first branch of Grimaldi’s — the famous Brooklyn pizzeria where hordes of tourists and locals line up for perfectly blistered coal-fired pies. Owner Frank Ciolli reassures us his signature pizza will remain the same, but the new outlet will stay open 24/7.
The 3 a.m. hour will no doubt attract pie-eyed clubbers, but Ciolli says the eatery will be “more of a family place,” serving beer and wine only in the 1,200-square-foot space roughly the same size as the original. (There will be two entrances, one mall-side and one on Sixth Avenue.)
So, does this mean the lines will be as epic as the ones in DUMBO?
“You don’t take anything for granted, but that would be nice,” he laughs, noting the restaurant will hand out beepers to customers so they can crawl the mall while waiting for a table.
The Limelight isn’t the only slice of Manhattan real estate Grimaldi’s is eyeing: It will open another branch at 135 John St., in the Financial District, later this year.
carla.spartos@nypost.com