Little Italy’s oldest cheese shop closes, moves to New Jersey

This 130-year-old enterprise’s Manhattan storefront is parma-gone and mozzarel-ocating to the Backyard State. 

Alleva Dairy’s longtime 188 Grand St. house could also be gor-gone-zola, however the over-one-century-old Italian grocer isn’t letting the grate change into the enemy of the nice. As an alternative of throwing within the cheesecloth, they’re up and transferring to New Jersey. 

“After critical consideration, Alleva Dairy at 188 Grand Avenue will shut on Wednesday, March 1 at 6 P.M.,” stated proprietor Karen King, who purchased the fromage manufacturing unit along with her late husband John “Cha Cha” Ciarcia — a pal of Tony Danza and descendent of Alleva’s founding household — in 2014. “I’m so grateful for the help I’ve acquired from my devoted prospects, neighbors, the information media and strangers from throughout the nation.” 

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Nothing gouda can keep in New York, it appears, as Alleva — which opened in 1892 and is billed because the nation’s oldest cheese retailer — is now banking on doing feta past the boroughs.

“Due to the imaginative and prescient, generosity and dedication of businessman and developer, Jack Morris, President and CEO, of Edgewood Properties, Alleva Dairy shall be opening a 3,700-square-foot retailer at 9 Polito Ave. in Lyndhurst, NJ,” King continued, including that “One factor is definite, Alleva Dairy will proceed and shall be greater and higher than earlier than.”

For many who miss the long-lasting inexperienced and crimson signage, don’t brie unhappy! They’ll rise once more on the Jersey location. The remainder of the of the fixtures, counters and equipment have additionally been “rigorously loaded up and brought to storage,” in accordance with a press launch. 

The closure follows a court docket battle over the greater than $500,000 value of again hire the cured meat, rice ball and sub-slinging landmark’s landlord alleged it didn’t pay in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Little Italy store was leased to pay $23,756 a month in hire.)

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Landlord Jerome G. Stabile III Realty sued the soppressata-slinger in Manhattan Supreme Court docket in April, asking for “permission to evict you from the topic premise if you don’t pay the cash judgment.” Subsequent negotiations, together with a proposal to right away put up $250,000 and repay the lease’s length, had been unsuccessful — and in September, Alleva filed for Chapter 11 chapter. 

Regardless of the veal-y dangerous scenario, the ricotta outpost stayed open until the bitter finish. The ultimate prospects at its New York tackle had been a household from Montreal. They purchased cannoli.