For Elaine Carpenter, running a business with her family has been a continuous learning experience since she took helm of New York Pizza Pub in 2023 with her son David Carpenter, and his wife Erica Carpenter.

The restaurant, located at 2345 TX-337 Loop, has been operating in New Braunfels since 2009. Elaine Carpenter said the family dynamic is central to the business.

"I have several of my grandchildren who also work here and I love seeing them be apart of this business," Elaine Carpenter said.

The background

The Carpenters moved to New Braunfels in 1989, but before taking a shot in the restaurant industry, Elaine and her husband drove a commercial truck and traveled for work for 16 years. Rich Swenson—the original owner of New York Pizza Pub, moved to New Braunfels from Syracuse, New York, she said. When Swenson sold the business in 2023, Elaine Carpenter jumped at the opportunity for a career change.


“When we bought the business, it was important to keep the tradition alive and not make major changes to the menu,” she noted.

Respecting the craft

Elaine Carpenter said all pizzas are stone-baked which sets them apart from oven-baked pizzerias. New York Pizza Pub serves scratch-made pizza using fresh ingredients and traditional recipes from the original owner, as the business aims to remain true to the flavors of New York-style pizza.

New York Pizza Pub offers a variety of specialty pizzas, calzones, lasagna, pasta desserts and more. The pizzeria also offers an extensive menu of cocktails, wine and beer.


Elaine said she has enjoyed the positive feedback of the New Braunfels community and hopes to open a second location in the future.