Grimaldi’s Pizza Served Eviction Notice
August 11th, 2010
While we are on the topic of the crumbling townhouses of Old Fulton Street yesterday, it appears that Grimaldi’s (19 Old Fulton Street) is also crumbling (so to speak) under back payments owed to the landlord. Apparently, the long lines at Grimaldi’s isn’t enough for restaurant owner Frank Ciolli to pay back rent of $44,000 to the landlord, Dorothy Waxman. So Ms. Waxman has served eviction papers. “The landlord will ask a state Supreme Court judge in Brooklyn to throw out her famous tenant”, according to the story in the Wall Street Journal. The article states that “Mr. Ciolli also has set aside money to pay August’s rent and $7,000 in attorney’s fees, and can pay the $38,000 for a security deposit, but Mrs. Waxman’s attorney has refused the money. “He’s trying to create a default,” Ciolli’s attorney Mr. Perrella said.”
Even if things end well this week for Mr. Ciolli, he’s lost his right to renew his lease, so the restaurant would likely leave the space next fall. Mr. Ciolli plans to open a pizzeria on Sixth Avenue and 20th Street in Manhattan.
The 1,100-square-foot storefront on Old Fulton Street is part of the city’s pizza lore, in part, because it houses one of the city’s few coal-fired ovens. Patsy Grimaldi, who learned the art from a renowned pie-making uncle, opened the restaurant in 1990, retiring in 1998 and selling the Grimaldi’s name to Mr. Ciolli. The restaurant is one of the city’s top-rated pizzerias in Zagat’s annual survey and has been featured on food shows and in pizza tours.
The city, too, is owed money: nearly $12,250 in property taxes and business improvement district charges, according to the Finance Department. Mr. Ciolli was responsible for paying taxes and city fees under the lease, courts papers say.
With the consistent lines and the recent $2 surcharge for the privilege of picking up pizza (a local’s “special”), why Grimaldi’s cannot pay rent and property taxes are a mystery to us.
[UPDATE: Gothamist reminded us that Grimaldi's had account mistakes in the past. In July 2007, they were shut down for a few hours because they owed the state $150,000 in taxes.]
Grimaldi’s Pizza (grimaldis.com)
19 Old Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 718.858.4300
August 11th, 2010 at 12:40 am
somewhat shocking- i always figured they were making a few thousand in profit daily. good pizza but poor management, i suppose. Too bad, while i never go in tourist season, it's one of my winter favorites.
August 11th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Oh, good – so when 11 old fulton street collapses, fewer people will be injured/killed.
August 11th, 2010 at 10:20 am
This is our favorite place….:(((((((((((((((((((((( Cannot pay rent!! Lines are
down the block everyday….very sad!
August 11th, 2010 at 11:46 am
[...] Grimaldi’s Pizza Served Eviction Notice - Dumbo NYC [...]
August 11th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
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August 11th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Overrated pizza, finally free of the cowlike herds of tourist zombies on that block, this is great news.
August 11th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
It's become too crazy so it's just for tourists anyway. They should move to Times Square.
August 11th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Yes, it's way overrated and overrun with tourists, but actually great pizza. Too bad they're organized crime thugs raking in cash, and they don't own the building…
August 12th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Good riddance. Over-rated, tourist trap pizza with horrendous service. I look forward to who will take their place.
August 12th, 2010 at 9:54 am
And adios to that leg breaker they have stationed at the door.
August 12th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Good riddance. Over-rated, tourist trap pizza with horrendous service. I look forward to who will take their place.
August 12th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
And adios to that leg breaker they have stationed at the door.
November 25th, 2011 at 10:55 am
[...] The Brooklyn Paper noted, last year, the landlord of Grimaldi’s tried to evict them for falling behind on rent and city taxes. “Instead, a judge ordered her to accept late [...]