Longtime Restaurant, Pete’s Downtown in Fulton Ferry Closed
December 31st, 2011
Pete’s Downtown restaurant at 2 Water Street (next to Ignazio’s Pizza and across The River Cafe) has closed, according to a worker who has emailed us. Brooklyn Eagle first reported that the restaurant is not only closed, but it has cleared its space, after being open since the 1980s. It’s too bad for a restaurant that has been a fixture in the neighborhood for a long time. Pete’s served Italian food with popular dishes like penne vodka, baked ravioli, veal parmigiana, and shrimp scampi, according to online review websites.
Calls were not returned, and there are no updates on its Twitter (@petesdowntown) or Facebook pages, and their website, petesdowntown.com is offline.
According to a Fulton Ferry resident, Pete Thristino the owner has told patrons that the lease was not renewed, and the landlord is seeking a high end restaurant to take over the space. The location is a prime space, given the view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline, and would attract a higher lease. A restaurant there would make a lot of ‘friends’ from residents in the area if the food quality is high, but is also a destination location for outer borough visitors.
The Brooklyn Eagle writes: “Pete’s was one of the first businesses to move into the area after it began to be redeveloped. The first signs of this redevelopment came in 1977, when BargeMusic and the River Café opened. Pete Thristino, owner of the restaurant, told this reporter in a 2008 interview that even in the early 1980s, “This was known as an area that when it snowed, there were no footprints…The building, on the corner of Water Street, was known as the Franklin House Hotel in the mid-1800s. It was an important hotel and restaurant in the days before the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, when the ferry area was the gateway to Manhattan and visiting merchants, clerks, seamen and farmers needed someplace to stay.”
Pete’s Downtown (Closed as of Dec 29, 2011)
2 Water Street (at Old Fulton Street), Brooklyn, NY 11201
23 Responses to “Longtime Restaurant, Pete’s Downtown in Fulton Ferry Closed”
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January 2nd, 2012 at 10:03 am
Can you say, Hello Olive Garden, in
Italian? The line will rival grimaldi’s. Other than the meal at the River Cafe parents feel obliged to treat their under employed runts there is no reason for bonified Dumboites to commingle with bus loads of diabetics from Youngstown that graze at the Landing.
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Insane… I just inquired about using their private event space last week for an event in February and they made absolutely no mention of closing. Glad I didn’t go forward with the plans!
January 2nd, 2012 at 9:43 pm
hmmm, now i regret all those times I walked by with out ever going in.
January 3rd, 2012 at 11:40 pm
I don’t care what comes into that space… I’M NOT EATING THERE…. AND YOU SHOULDN’T EITHER!!!!!!
January 3rd, 2012 at 11:42 pm
They have two ther restaurants still (I think)… the original Pete’s on Myrtle Ave, and Pete’s Pizzeria on 5th Ave in Park Slope
January 4th, 2012 at 9:09 am
There should be a Shake Shack there.
January 4th, 2012 at 10:31 am
they will be missed. RIP PETE’S
January 4th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Well, whatever goes into that space, should: 1. not be in competition with the three other pizza places (we all know what they are). 2. The space should reflect the heritage of the Fulton Landing. 3. Also have something there where, hordes of tourists will NOT be lining up to get a quick bite. 4. Finally, something that is a wee bit pricier than other haunts in the ‘hood, so DUMBO & Vinegar Hill residents can enjoy too.
January 4th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
i think it sucks! we had our wedding reception dinner in the party room back in 1999…the first party that was held in the newly built annex..will miss the mozzarella corozza & rigatoni petes…..another small business owner falls victim to american greed.
January 5th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
David Bennet- you just described River Cafe.
January 6th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
To Coolio – I was not trying to replicate a restaurant like the River Cafe, but a local spot, “where everybody knows your name” type establishment. I’ve only been to TRC twice, way overpriced, and the food is mediocre.
January 15th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
No one was more upset then I! I am the fourth generation in the business! My great, great grandfather started his first restaurant on Myrtle ave, cooking everything in a coal burning oven. My personal history is long in the restaurant business starting when I was 13 as a dishwasher in my grandfather’s table cloth restaurant, I have bussed tables, worked as a valet, waiter, bartender and manager. I started my own career opening a pizzaria at 19. I have only known this business. I tired to hold on to the lease but I lost. I lost a lot more than Pete’s. I am 56 years old..where does one go from here? To Jay: I would not have taken your money! We just were having a had time handling our fate and were hoping the landlord would change his mind.
January 17th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Pete,
my wife and I were extremely disappointed that you had to close. Pete’s was our favorite restaurant in DUMBO. We’ll come visit you at the pizzeria soon. All the best.
January 17th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Pete, it’s Dannys daughter… age is just a number. Don’t give up. If i were you, I’d start thinking of new ideas to open a restaurant. Goodluck!!!!
January 29th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
I live in the neighborhood at one of Walenta’s ( not sure if I spelled it correctly but you all know who he is) buildings. I was shocked to go by Pete’s last night for dinner to find the place was shut down. When I read the blogs, which all indicated that Two Tress ( greedy f’ers) did not settle on a lease renewal, I was not surprised. Two Tress had a great vision for Dumbo but in the end they are nothing more than greedy individuals. I assume from the restaurant owner’s blog here that a rent concession was probably in talks and Two Tress would not accept. It would not matter if this was a chain or a new restaurant, but, Pete’s was a historic staple in the neighborhood and for the a- holes at Two Trees not to support this business is just wrong! Next time I see him in the street I will tell him in person what I think of him!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Such a shame, greed kills all good things! I have introduced so many people to Pete’s and everyone loved it. Calamari was the best I ever had, and the PorkChop stuffed with mozzarella so good!!! If their is anyway I could contact someone if they are not going to do anything with the Pete’s sign Would like to get it to preserve something that was great!!! If anyone knows a contact please let me know.Thanks
Jack
February 17th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
I just left there and was so sad to see that it was closed. For the past 6 years I’ve eaten at Petes for my birthday, today is my birthday and it will not be the same. I’ve celebrated my anniversary as well as many other special moments there. I will miss the cheese stuff ravioli and the beautiful view. I’ve never met the owner but I’ve always seen him there and really thought it was so cool of him to have such a causual attire at times. I promised myself I was going to request that he take a “petes picture” with me today! So sad but I wish him further sucess in business and hope he keeps us in touch with future resturants! Xoxo
March 7th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
So strange, We just bought a painting of the corner of Old Fulton, Pete’s is in the illustration and of course a glorious view of the bridge and Manhattan. At dusk. My husband and I bought it last week, because as Brooklynites we love that area, and Pete’s is special to us because my husband proposed to me by the waterfront at night, and then afterward we dined at Pete’s, with a view of Manhattan from our table by the window (the only duce in the place…). And now I read this. Very sad…everyone is joking that an Olive Garden or Starbucks or some other monstrocity will rent the space, and yet another chip off the facade that was once a unique and wonderful city, full of character and flavor, only to fold and join the legions of corporately owned drugstores, coffee shops and department stores that litter our once-unique city. Sadder than sad. I’m glad I have this painting to help me remember the glory days.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:44 am
[...] real estate business on the Dumbo Commercial Report for March 2012: In a sign of the times, Pete’s Downtown Restaurant at One Fulton Street closed and the approx. 3200 RSF space is for lease at $70/foot. Of the 133 storefronts or retail sites in [...]
March 14th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
No Olive Garden, but could it be that a steakhouse is coming?
March 28th, 2012 at 8:31 am
pete you will be missed hope you reopen soon ere we have been customers from myrtle ave just to say how long we have been around. keep the info flowing so we can find you again
vinny & anthony from the old neighborhood
May 3rd, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Nightmare, greetings from Scotland. My wife and I been to Pete’s every time in NYC, last time in Dec 2011, when we encouraged eight other people to join us! What a place! We only found out as a friend was trying to book a table. Best wishes Pete, let us know your new location
May 13th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
great memories of eating at Pete’s, free parking, beautiful views, didn’t have to mortgage my house to eat there (hint, River Cafe). the food was decent, service good and never rushed. we used to go across the street and have ice cream, sit by the piers and linger many a summer evening. what a shame. pete you will be missed.