Landlord dispute forces Grimaldi’s out

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Grimaldi’s will move from 19 Old Fulton Street to 1 Front Street (credit: Google Maps)
Famed pizzeria Grimaldi’s will leave its original location in Dumbo next Monday following a dispute with the landlord, the Brooklyn Paper reported. But Brooklyn pizza aficionados won’t have to wait long or venture far from the 19 Old Fulton Street location to find the restaurant in its new spot — the owners plan to open next door at 1 Front Street Nov. 29.

The dispute began last year, when landlord Dorothy Waxman tried to evict Grimaldi’s for falling behind on rent and city taxes. But a judge ordered her to accept late payments and allow the pizzeria to stay open. At the time, the Waxman family, which public records show has owned the property since 1978, said it would kick them out once their lease expired this month.

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Grimaldi’s had been in that location since first opening in 1990. The Brooklyn Paper said Grimaldi’s owners didn’t appear too distraught over moving from their original location. “We’re moving into a bigger, nicer, and cleaner facility,” said Gina Peluso, daughter of Grimaldi’s owner Frank Ciolli. “It will be nice to have a little more room.” The restaurant will occupy the first floor of the building, while the second floor remains a night club.

Ciolli also owns the offshoots in Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Hoboken, N.J., Arizona, Florida, Texas and Las Vegas. [Brooklyn Paper]