Grimaldi's Closes DUMBO Location Nov 28, Opens Next Door Nov 29

Going to have to move that line a few doors over (Harris Graber's flickr).

The DOH shuttering of Di Fara isn't the only big news in Brooklyn pizza today. On November 28 another staple of the Brooklyn pie-scene will be closing its doors forever...and reopening next door. People: It is the end of Grimaldi's as we know it!

That Grimaldi's might move isn't exactly a surprise—the longstanding pizza place has been bickering with its DUMBO landlord for ages now—but it still brings a lump to the throat. Still, the restaurant's owners seem okay with it. "We’re moving into a bigger, nicer, and cleaner facility," Gina Peluso, daughter of owner Frank Ciolli, told the Brooklyn Paper. "It will be nice to have a little more room."

The longstanding pie purveyor will close on November 28 and reopen the next day down the block at 1 Front Street. It'll be taking over the former bank turned bar and lounge's first floor. "The second floor will remain a nightclub." May the new oven be as magical as the old one!

And while we're talking about Grimaldi's... Pro tip: Though the restaurant is famous for its lines and lack of slices YOU don't have to wait if you don't want to. The restaurant is happy to make your a pie to go. Just order 15 minutes in advance, skip the line and eat your pizza al fresco!

1 Front Street // 718-858-4300

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Garth Johnston in Food on November 21, 2011 12:19 PM

Comments [rss]

futomaki

Thank you for letting the secret out. I've been skipping that line, walking in, and ordering a pie to go for two years now.

fultonferryres

First of all, it is in the Fulton Ferry Historic District, not DUMBO. Commenters are correct about them not picking up the phone when they are busy. The new oven next door will not be coal-fired, so the pizza will not have the same char that Grimaldi's brags about on their website: "Designed and built by hand, the coal-fired oven at Grimaldi's Pizzeria delivers a unique flavor and consistency that is just not possible from wood or gas ovens. The oven heats up to 1200 degrees. The intense heat of the oven and coal evenly bakes the pies to create Grimaldi's famous crispy and smoky crust that Zagat has voted best pizza year after year."

G00SEiv

If they aren't bringing the oven, I'm never going to Grimaldi's ever again.

Dan

Overrated.

GottaBelieve86

The real trick when you want Grimaldis is to go down Henry twelve blocks to Lucali and have a real pizza.

JoanAngelson

Cash only, still. I wonder why?

virgilstarkwell

you really wonder why?

according to their tax returns, they sold 4 pizzas last year.

Trustafarian

and credit card transaction fees are annoying as are big groups of tourists who want a bill split on 15 different credit cards.

goodbyewren

Does Grimaldi's have a coal oven? I think they do. Are they going to be able to somehow bring over their grandfathered oven? (I guess the awning does say "Brick Oven" but I thought it was coal...)

Trustafarian

it's a brick oven that uses coal as it's fuel.

ihateloggingin

They figure people will just overlook the oven thing, plus a majority of their customers now are out of towners who are clueless of the whole thing.

Trustafarian

exactly

ab_bklyn

I think you should amend this story to say that if you call and they happen to pick up (which is not likely when they're busy), they'll make you a pie to go and you can walk right in and pick it up. I live right around the corner and haven't gone there to eat in YEARS... there's a two-hour line outside even in bad weather.

Garth Johnston

really? hm. we call in on a more regular basis than is probably healthy and only once have they just not answered the phone...

Bridget Hartzler

I thought you had to wait in the same line as everyone else even if you were ordering a pizza to go, but maybe their rules have changed since I moved out of the neighborhood.

Honestly, I think people should walk up to Main and Front Street and taste Front Street Pizza--its more delicious and the service is a lot friendlier.

TheKingofEngland

Back in 2009, I ordered a to-go and didn't have to wait in line. This was on a Sunday afternoon in the summer. Not too shabby. While the pizza was meh, the faces of the confused tourists as we walked back along the line with our pie - 5 minutes after they saw us arrive - were truly delightful.

tien

Front Street Pizza's pizza is disgusting. Advice to everyone: DO NOT LISTEN TO BRIDGET'S ADVICE.

I don't know if that place down the street (closer to the water) from Grimaldi's is any good, but when I look in, the pies look okay.

ihateloggingin

On Fri and Sat or just when they feel like it, they do not pick up their phone at all and pick up or eat in you gotta wait in the same line.