AAA Amici Pizza on Third Avenue at East 12th Street has closed... there was apparently an auction on site yesterday. EVG regular Muzz talked to the owner, who said that the pizzeria was rent-hiked out of there. And they will not be looking to open anywhere else.
A rent hike isn't much of a shocker given the towering new retail-residential building going up at 84 Third Ave. across the street... and the incoming high-end Han Dynasty opening right next door...
"It's too bad, because it was another place where you could get a good meal — especially for takeout — for under $10," said Muzz. "The old way of doing business in the EV is just being hammered out, block by block."
Although I want small businesses to succeed, that pizza was bad! And they stayed open so late, til 4 am, so they were kind of like an extension of Bar None, with people throwing up outside,hanging out on the sidewalk, etc. Don't want a chain or another bar, but at the same time there was room for improvement here.
ReplyDeleteI've been eating Amici pizza for many years, it wasn't bad, it was good, fresh, and their pastas and heroes were, too. Maybe it wasn't the best pizza in all five boros. But maybe at 4 am after one too many beers, anything would taste awful.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if there were Pizza Parlors before them in the phone book (a Amici Pizza, aa Amici Pizza or others perhaps).
ReplyDeleteIn these days of smarty phones, being first in the book is an old business concept.
Feh, it was a mediocre slice spot, neither delicious nor nutritious. No big loss. Now if it had been a decent diner disappearing 'd be singing a different tune...
ReplyDeleteWent there once, i was like
ReplyDeleteMeh, I can go get the same at Two Bros Pizza for a third the price and get it in a bathrobe and crocodile slippers.
I was just walking by there the other day and thought "I wonder how long that place will last." That little area is changing a lot (first the big building on the corner, now the Wayside coffee bar).
ReplyDeleteI went to Amici I think once maybe six years ago. But you don't have to patronize a place to enjoy the fact that it's there.
I know Norm the owner well and this is really sad to see this place go. I wish him all the best with the future.
ReplyDelete...sometimes a place is made all the better by the genuine kindness of the owners and staff; such was the case here.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 7:28 PM, I asked the owner about that one day - it's an old concept that was updated for today: AAA Amici was first on the SeamlessWeb online order page.
ReplyDeleteLoved this place & friendly staff
ReplyDeleteAAA Amici was an institution. There are many different types of pizza in New York, but for every Artichoke or Joe's, there needs to be a place that sells a classic greasy and tasty Pepperoni or Hawaiian, that is made all the better by adding pounds of garlic salt and chili flakes. AAA Amici - the pizza place with the silliest name - will be greatly missed.
ReplyDelete