Acclaimed Cypress Park pizzeria Shins Pizza suddenly closed on January 7, 2025, after just a year and a half in business. Opened in August 2023, Shins was best known for its blistered New York-style slices topped with things like pepperoni, large, fatty rounds of mortadella, or sweet Chinese sausage, and served alongside miso-glazed sweet potatoes, barbecue pork arancini, and crispy chicken nuggets. Shins did not provide additional comment about the closure when reached.
Operated by Shin Irvin, the founder of creative agency Folklor whose work can be seen in the design of restaurants like Gjelina and RVR, Shins quickly grew in popularity, drawing lines that stretched down the block on its soft opening weekend. Its chef-partner Melissa López, a Bestia alum, can be credited with the signature slices and creative take on the classic pizzeria menu. In January 2025, just one day before its closure announcement, the restaurant was noted in a New York Times story on where to find great New York-style slices across the country.
The closure was announced in an Instagram post that reads, “After much effort and consideration, we regret to inform you that Shins Pizza has closed its doors for business. For the last year and a half, we poured our hearts into making this place a success, but despite our best efforts, we were unable to turn the corner.” The post goes on to thank the Cypress Park community for its “support, encouragement, and loyalty.
” Shins Pizza was operated by La.
