Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy
Updated 3/26: We have more from Phil Hartman here.
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The longtime home of East Village mainstay Two Boots Pizza — at 42 Avenue A on the SE corner of Third Street — is now on the rental market.
Last week, we spotted an apparent off-market listing for the space. When asked at the time, owner Phil Hartman said they were hoping to negotiate a new lease with the landlord.
"We've been in that spot for 30 years, and began across the street 39 years ago, and hope to stay," he told us.
Last night, a listing via Meridian Capital Group surfaced on Instagram, describing the space as an "East Village staple" and a "rare opportunity."
Two Boots — named for the shapes of Italy and Louisiana — began in the East Village in 1987, when Hartman, a filmmaker, and Doris Kornish teamed up with developer John Touhey to open the original restaurant at 37 Avenue A.
The online listing states the monthly rent as $22,500.
Despite the listing going live, Hartman said last night that they are still in talks with the landlord.
"Right now, we're trying to decide if we want to stay where we are or relocate, depending on negotiations with our landlord — a very nice guy, as a matter of fact, who I've known for over 30 years! In any case, the East Village is deep in the bones of Two Boots — and in me, of course — and we will always be in the neighborhood. We need to stay close to the Lower Eastside Girls Club, Loisaida Inc., Anthology Film Archives, the Keswell School, Hetrick- Martin Institute, and the dozens of other community partners that we treasure."
A slice shop opened across A before moving to its current location. In the ensuing years, other outposts opened up around NYC and in cities such as Baltimore and Nashville.
Known for its Cajun-Italian mashups (and quirky slice names), the brand has long been a staple in the neighborhood's pizza scene.
The corner space on A and Third also once housed the Two Boots video store, Den of Cin and the Pioneer Theater, featuring eclectic indie programming.
Whether at 42 Avenue A or elsewhere in the neighborhood, it sounds like Two Boots will remain in the East Village.
10 comments:
I hope Two Boots remains in East Village. I have eaten there many times.
Me too...I hope they stay. They're iconic 🤗
Greedy landlords are the death of neighborhoods. There's no way twoboots is not already paying a boatload of money for that spot. I won't be able to recognize this place if we lose twoboots
Two Boots have always been terrific and generous neighbors.
🍕 Cleopatra Jones 🍕
Hang in there Phil! Two Boots is an anchor to the East Village. We need you!
Fucking landlord parasites. This is what Mamdani should be focused on instead of trying to tax the upper middle class.
The other Mr. Garcia and I were considering all of the many start up concepts that became successful and left the East Village altogether. Mighty Quinn's, Luke's Lobster, that hot dog place that was briefly open at Theatre 80, etal, etal. Two Boots has grown but has stayed true to the values that made it a success and deserves a place here and we should lobby for it to do so. Where are our newly electeds?
Thanks so much for all the positive feedback -- this is the first time I've ever commented on anything, anywhere! Please be assured we will remain a presence in the neighborhood for a long time -- my dream is to be cryogenically frozen and defrosted for the TB 100th Anniversary in 2087 -- see you there!
we cannot lose Two Boots!
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