An Upper West Side grocery store, Barzini's, is facing eviction from its Broadway location after accumulating over $1 million in unpaid rent. The store, a neighborhood fixture since 1983, is scheduled to be removed from the premises next week after failing to meet an initial June deadline to vacate.
Joseph Cervini, an attorney representing the landlord, stated that the landlord had waived a significant portion of the back rent in an effort to work with the tenant. "It's just the tenant wasn't able to pay. And that's a significant amount of money," Cervini told The Post. The 3,600-square-foot space is now listed as immediately available, with the potential to be divided for up to three tenants.
The impending closure follows a year of legal disputes. Barzini's began defaulting on its $56,000 monthly rent in February 2025. This financial struggle occurred shortly after the market defied orders to shut down due to health code violations found by state inspectors. Inspections revealed issues such as rodent activity, beetles in grain, and the sale of expired cheese.
Despite these issues, the store manager had previously assured that Barzini's would continue its 24/7 service and expressed hope for renovations. However, the market owners ultimately stopped paying rent in March. They agreed to vacate the property on June 29 but filed for bankruptcy that same day, an attempt that ultimately did not prevent the eviction.
A judge permitted the eviction, with the notice specifying that tenants could legally be removed starting August 31. Liquidation signs have recently appeared throughout the store, though employees had previously suggested they indicated excess inventory rather than an imminent closure. The final operating day for Barzini's has not yet been confirmed.
Customers expressed dismay at the potential loss of the long-standing establishment. "My mother sent me here for olive oil and imported pasta and the San Marzano tomatoes when I was a kid. I still come here for mozzarella, the pecorino," said customer Anthony Carbone, 54. Miriam Rosen, 68, described the shutdown as "heartbreaking" and a loss of the city's character.