End of an Avenue B era for Gruppo as it will relocate to the Bowery in March

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After 26 years on Avenue B, Gruppo is heading to a new home. 

Owner Antonio Gomez said the thin-crust pizza specialists are relocating and merging with their sister restaurant, Spunto.

The combined restaurant will reopen at 261 Bowery, between Houston and Stanton, bringing the two brands under one roof. 

"We'll have the same food, same vibe — just a new location," Gomez said. 

Gruppo's lease on Avenue B and Spunto's lease on Carmine Street both recently ended, prompting the consolidation. The current Avenue B location is expected to close on March 21, with an immediate reopening planned at the Bowery space. 

Manager Rita Dell'Aquila says the Gruppo name will be folded into Spunto, which holds the liquor license. The new restaurant will offer an expanded but familiar menu, a full bar, and the same delivery zone—an important part of the restaurant's business. The Bowery location will also accommodate larger groups and offer more flexible seating. 

Staffers at Gruppo will remain employed. Dell'Aquila said, "Everyone has been accommodated in the restructuring."

Gruppo first opened at 186 Avenue B in 1999 before later moving to 98 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

Gomez said the team plans to host a series of events and gatherings in the coming weeks so neighbors can pay homage to the Avenue B space before the move.

"We're looking forward to celebrating with everybody," he said.

H/T Salim!

On Avenue B, damaged façade shutters Gruppo

From the EVG tipline... the recent heavy rains apparently caused some of the façade tiles to fall outside 98 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

Ground-floor tenant Gruppo is now closed for emergency repairs ... as the city issued a full-vacate order on the two-level building...

Thin-crust fans can contact their sister restaurant, Posto, in Gramercy Park for deliveries.

Gruppo owner opening Mezcla on Second Avenue and East 19th Street

A little out of our usual coverage zone… but we wanted to mention this… We had been to Capucine's Restaurant with its tuxedo-clad waiters on Second Avenue and East 19th Street a few times through the years… A rent hike helped shutter the place after 33 years in business on April 1, 2013, as Jeremiah Moss reported.

While walking by 327 Second Ave. the other day, we spotted the signage for what's coming next…



Mezcla will serve Latin and Spanish food here … with a soft opening expected on Monday, according to DNAinfo.



Owner Antonio Gomez, a Lower East Side resident, operates Posto across Second Avenue at No. 310 … (he also owns Gruppo on Avenue B).

Per DNA:

Gomez plans to source most of Mezcla's ingredients — including eggs, pork and rabbit — from his own farm upstate.

Gomez has already begun growing tomatoes and basil on his farm to use at his Manhattan pizzerias — in addition to Posto, he also owns Gruppo, Vezzo, Spunto and Tappo — but he soon plans to dedicate the entire 92-acre farm for ingredients to use at Mezcla, he said. Changes include expanding egg production from 100 per week to about 1,000, he said.

Updated: Gruppo Thin Crust Pizza opens at new Avenue B location tonight (free beer alert)

The renovations are done here at 98 Avenue B between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street... Per the Gruppo Facebook page:

Grand Opening at our new location, 98 Ave B (6-7 st), Free Draft beer when you dine with us! See you tonight!

Their previous home at 186 Avenue B is now closed.

Updated 8:21

The sandwich board out front via @dens

Gruppo signage arrives at new Avenue B digs

As you may know, Gruppo is relocating to a new home down Avenue B... to 98 Avenue B between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street (at the former Layaly space) ... Dave on 7th notes the letters are up ...

No definite timeline for an opening date... you can see there's a little work left to do on the inside...