Today is the last day in business for the Tuck Shop, which has been selling Australian meat and vegetable pies these past 13 years on First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
Owner Niall Grant told me this about the closure in an email last week: "All the usual reasons can be cited but rising costs in general are behind this difficult decision. After 13 years in business I am tired of the struggle to keep a small business afloat in NYC."
Yesterday, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the shop where the mood was fairly upbeat, all things considered...
Here's part of the Tuck Shop team (from the left): Andras Castro, Lee Galdos, Pedro Arrioca, Juan Lorenzo and Grant...
Grant said that he is especially concerned about finding jobs for his longtime kitchen team. (He was helping with résumés while Stacie was there.) Arrioca, the head chef, has been at Tuck Shop from Day 1 while Lorenzo, the sous chef, has been there for nine years, and Castro, the prep cook, for seven years. (If anybody out there has a kitchen opportunity for any of them please email tuckshopfirststreet@gmail.com.)
[Tuck Shop employee Elvis Barlow-Smith]
Here's a longtime customer who stopped in for a last Tuck Shop meal...
Grant said that he'd love to have people could come by today to have a meal and say goodbye...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Tuck Shop is closing after 13 years on 1st Street
8 comments:
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Hello Grant. I have sent a couple of emails but haven't gotten any response. Just wanted to let you know that you can certainly send any kitchen , prep, or FOH staff over to TSB. We should be able to come up with something for them Best of luck to you and sorry for the loss.
Out of respect for Niall and co, I don't think I'll be eating any more Aussie meat pies after today. Not in NYC at least. Thanks Tuck Shop. We will miss you, for reals.
I am freezing a couple of those yummies for later!
I'm sorry the shop is closing. A little trivia - the storefront was the Bush Tetras rehearsal space in the early 80s.
Chelsea Market TS open through Friday
"After 13 years in business I am tired of the struggle to keep a small business afloat in NYC.
I've heard this sentiment echoed by countless small-business owners in NYC; I'm not saying the Small Business Jobs Survival Act is a cure-all for these situations, but I think it would be a big help in a lot of cases.
I am so sorry to hear this business can no longer be open. They made the best pies, and of course the best kale salad around, and at affordable prices. I wish the best for all the workers, and for the owner for sticking it out so long.
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