Nothing like turning west from First Avenue onto East 11th Street yesterday … and seeing the contents of one of your favorite shops out on the sidewalk.
Gah.
Turns out that the folks at Russo's are just doing some electrical/repair work.
Back open tomorrow, per the sign.
Now we'll go to New York magazine for a quickie overview:
Russo's has endured for a long time — they opened in 1908. Inside this diminutive shop, you'll find every Italian provision you'd expect — fresh ravioli, tortellini, gnocchi and linguini, cheese, olive oil, and canned tuna imported from Italy, as well as sausage, pepperoni, anchovies, and pignoli nuts.
Updated 8/7
Russo's reopened for business this afternoon around 3. There is a new floor and faux-brick walls ... not to mention two new display cases under the front counter... we didn't take any photos, as they were still getting things put back together. Food is the same!
The first time I saw someone use the "close" instead of "closed" was at Tower records back in the late 80's. The store had group of cash registers and like most stores only a couple had a cashier. As I was paying for some CDs I noticed the unattended register next to me had the word "close' in those green letters where the price would display. I ask the cashier why is it that people often make signs using "close" instead the correct "closed"? She told me "I think it comes from that expression, that shit be close." This is a true story and I chuckle every time I see a sign with "close".
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fishy cover story. I bet Russo's was bought out by a burka-wearing Saudi billionaire conglomerate with plans to sell a forward-thinking dairy-free artisanal frozen mozzarella, specially designed by a mozzarella consultant, which is now being manufactured by the ton in their massive ebola-free plant in Williamsburg. I hope someone will prove me wrong.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Giovanni, that's a really stupid rumor and you shoulding be spreading it. There are no ebola-free plants in Williamsburg.
ReplyDeleteThanks for clearing that up Dr Gecko, now I just need to find out if the new ebola vaccine causes autism, but that's another sotry.
ReplyDeleteThank Goodness!!! Russo's supplies us with our meats !!! ... Jason @ Immigrant
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna have pasta for lunch anyhow. Just try & stop me!
ReplyDeleteI still miss "Pete's Spice" from across First Avenue. But My Dad and I used to go to Russo's every week for some provisions - and Pete's was always a stop on our walk from Stuy Town in the 1970's.
ReplyDeleteI too had a mini heart attack when I walked by tonight. I was having a huge family argument and couldn't stop time like in the movies to reflect on my shock. Hopefully this electrical business isn't a sham.
ReplyDelete@joshdone I miss Pete's too! Just used up the very last grain of bee pollen that I got from him, what, 25 years ago? They say honey doesn't spoil so I figured the pollen wouldn't either. #petesspiceforever
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