They’re nearing their expiration date.
An Higher West Facet grocery retailer that defied orders to close down over stomach-turning well being violations final 12 months is being evicted after falling greater than $1 million behind on lease, information present.
Barzini’s — plastered with liquidation indicators for weeks — might be booted from its Broadway area subsequent week after homeowners ignored an preliminary June deadline to vacate the premises, Joseph Cervini, an legal professional representing the owner, advised The Put up.
“This isn’t a state of affairs the place the owner wished this tenant to go away,” Cervini stated.
“As a matter of truth, the owner waived 1,000,000 {dollars} in again lease for this tenant and did all the things in its energy to attempt to work by way of this. It’s simply the tenant wasn’t capable of pay. And that’s a big amount of cash.”
The store is already listed as “out there instantly” with the choice to separate the three,600-square-foot “prime” area between as much as three tenants.
The closure comes after a 12 months of authorized back-and-forth between the tenant and landlord — however it got here as a shock to clients who had been patronizing the market because it opened in 1983.
“My mom despatched me right here for olive oil and imported pasta and the San Marzano tomatoes after I was a child. I nonetheless come right here for mozzarella, the pecorino,” stated Anthony Carbone, 54.
“I’m actually going to overlook this place. You may’t exchange this sort of historical past with any grocery store. It simply disappears, and part of your life is gone.”
Miriam Rosen, 68, stated the shutdown was “heartbreaking.”
“I solely simply heard at this time and I’m in tears,” Rosen added. “Similar to that, a neighborhood establishment down the drain. I do know it occurs on a regular basis, however this one actually hurts. It’s a part of the character of town, the soul of town, know what I imply?”
However the market has struggled by way of monetary woes for greater than a 12 months, in accordance with courtroom paperwork.
The homeowners behind Barzini’s began defaulting on their $56,000 month-to-month lease in February 2025 — simply weeks after the market defiantly continued working regardless of state inspectors shuttin it down over nauseating well being code violations.
Inspections discovered rats — each useless and alive — crawling all through the store and beetles dwelling in grain — and famous that Barzini’s was hawking 7-year-old expired cheese.
Store supervisor Parviz Abde advised The Put up on the time that Barzini’s had by no means as soon as scaled again on its 24/7 service and wouldn’t begin due to a courtroom order.
“It’s been open for thus lengthy and perhaps we’ve uncared for it a bit, however we hope to repair it up,” he assured.
Abde didn’t reply to requests for remark concerning the eviction.
A lawyer listed for the grocery store additionally didn’t instantly return The Put up’s request for remark.
Barzini’s was practically evacuated final summer time for failure to pay lease, however claims by the market that the landlords did not appropriate undisclosed “hazardous situations” on the property prolonged the courtroom battle.
The homeowners altogether stopped paying lease in March.
They lastly agreed to vacate the property on June 29 — however as a substitute filed for chapter, that day, in a last-ditch effort at a keep of execution.
A choose finally permitted the eviction, nonetheless, which was handed to Barzini’s on Aug. 14. The eviction discover states that the primary day they will legally be tossed from the premises is Aug. 31.
“The whole lot should go!” indicators all of a sudden popped up all through the store earlier this month, however workers adamantly advised the West Facet Rag that it was not a sign that Barzini’s was closing, claiming it was as a result of the market had “an excessive amount of stock.”
Workers are nonetheless refusing to verify when their ultimate day might be.
Barzini’s has been a staple on Broadway between West ninetieth and 91st streets because it opened in 1983.
