They’re stayin’ alive.
A preferred sandwich store is ready to begin slinging hoagies inside a Studio 54-themed bar within the Higher East Facet after it was all of a sudden bounced from its former residence down the block.
Roman Grandinetti, the genius behind the beloved Italian eatery Regina’s Grocery, is hoping his new three way partnership with Ethyl’s Bar and Grill will increase nightlife again to the sleepy Manhattan nabe and put all of the native drama within the rearview.
The store, which has a number of places stretching throughout the Large Apple, was evicted from its sublease this month after the authorized tenant didn’t pay practically $300,000 in hire over two years, The Publish has realized.
“S–t occurs. This can be a New York story. It’s a part of the sport,” Grandinetti stated.
“I feel it was a cool alternative. We took benefit of it. We rolled the cube. … I feel this chance wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for the [situation] that we had been in. That is what New York is. This can be a New York story. This can be a New York second.”
The drama got here to mild after an eviction discover was plastered exterior 1698 2nd Ave. this month, ordering Regina’s Grocery and tenant Olde Bagels, owned by Tommy Brunton, to vacate the premises.
The pair didn’t pay hire and 1000’s in late fees from February 2024 by way of August 2025, racking up arrears totaling $329,786.11, in accordance with court docket papers.
To make issues worse, Grandinetti had been paying $3,750 monthly to carve out a piece of the two-room business area that landlord Grace Jean claims Brunton illegally sublet — whereas he spent two years attempting to assemble the remaining space right into a dream bagel store.
“He would simply give me all these excuses like, ‘Oh, I’ll pay on Thursday.’ Then he’ll name him Thursday, saying, ‘I’ve a gathering in Philadelphia. I can’t meet you.’ And so he’s stood me up a few instances,” Jean stated.
However Brunton as a substitute pointed to quite a few violations the constructing racked up that prevented him from shifting ahead with building — and claimed his lease stated he didn’t must pay hire throughout instances of inactivity.
“Once you see the constructing on the information and the facade falls down and my contractor is telling me I can’t pull the permits, I feel it’s legit,” he stated, pointing to the 2 complaints and three open violations lodged in opposition to the constructing, data present.
Moreover, Jean beloved the concept of shifting Regina’s Grocery into the area whereas they labored out the kinks, in accordance with Brunton, who claims he handed alongside Grandinetti’s hire in lump funds.
Neither Brunton nor Jean supplied the contested lease to The Publish regardless of quite a few requests.
Grandinetti, nevertheless, is washing his palms of the mess, telling The Publish he doesn’t plan on getting concerned in any court docket drama.
“We’re actually simply attempting to have some enjoyable and switch a detrimental right into a optimistic. This business is tough. The world is in a humorous place,” stated Grandinetti about his new enterprise.
Grandinetti opened up a Regina’s Grocery outpost inside Ethyl’s Bar and Grill Thursday and started slinging scorching sandwiches like hen parm and spicy vodka alongside espresso martinis and Negronis on faucet — which he wasn’t in a position to do on the prior location due to the infrastructure points.
The funky 1970’s-themed bar is owned by a former Studio 54 doorman, making it the proper spot for the sandwich store, which is known as after Grandinetti’s disco- and dancing-loving mom.
“Regina’s is my mom. Regina’s is what I really like. It’s just like the pleasure of my household, so when this all form of occurred, I took it in stride,” stated Grandinetti, a self-described “neighborhood saver” who’s trying to carry nightlife again to Yorkville.
The spot is the fourth location for Regina’s, following outposts in Mattress-Stuy, Nolita and the Decrease East Facet, however would be the first to serve up booze and nights of dancing.
“I’m form of excited to have this,” he stated. “The alcohol and social gathering ingredient simply make it enjoyable. I feel in New York Metropolis has misplaced that world.
“Nightlife has form of disappeared, and it was such an enormous factor and a pinnacle for my mom at the moment.”
— Extra reporting by Peter Senzamici
