Sammy's Halal reopens on 1st Avenue

Photos by Steven 

We thought Sammy was a goner. 

Sammy's Halal looked all but closed in the spring, with boxes stacked inside the front window. The space was dark for weeks. 

And then we saw some activity this month ... then Sammy's Halal reopened last week at 109 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street with new signage and interior design. 

The counter in the previous space was in the back, and it didn't look inviting to enter. Now, you can order right inside the front door. There are also a few seats for dining.

You can check out the Sammy's menu here. 

The Sammy's signage first arrived in January 2018... taking over the address from Polish G. I. Delicatessen, the Eastern European specialty foods shop that closed in July 2017 after 21 years in business.

Sammy's Halal is now open

Last we checked, things weren't looking promising for Sammy's Halal at 109 First Ave. ... we hadn't detected too much going on inside the space between Sixth Street and Seventh Street ... however, after a flurry of recent activity, Sammy's debuted this past Friday.

Sammy's offers a variety of lamb, beef and chicken shawarma platters (all are under $10) ... other menu items include the lamb gyro ($4.99) and appetizer order of hummus ($4.99). They are open 24/7, and have several egg dishes (the "New York Style" egg and cheese is $2.99).

The Sammy's menu notes a 10-percent discount for police officers, students, hospital employees and cab drivers. (The menu notes with ID, so in case you were going as a cop or doctor for Halloween ...)

This makes the third Sammy's location, joining the one on Sixth Avenue and Fourth Street and the one in Jackson Heights.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Sammy's Halal signage arrives at the former Polish G. I. Delicatessen

Whatever happened to... Sammy's Halal?

Going on nine months now since the Sammy's Halal signage arrived at 109 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

And not much has seemingly happened with the space. (Chicken remains "Chiken" on the sign.)

The interior has a no-frills, 1970s basement rec room look...



Google lists the location as "permanently closed" even though the place was never actually open (and there's a five-star review!) ...



The address was previously the Polish G. I. Delicatessen, the Eastern European specialty foods shop closed in July 2016 after 21 years in business.

Sammy's Halal signage arrives at the former Polish G. I. Delicatessen

The transformation of the former Polish G. I. Delicatessen at 109 First Ave. between Seventh Street and Sixth Street is almost complete.

The awning for the new tenant, Sammy's Halal, went up on Friday. Based on the work permits, I thought it was going to be an outpost of Shawarma House. This appears to be part of the Sammy's family.

As for the late Polish G. I. Delicatessen, the Eastern European specialty foods shop closed last July after 21 years in business. Read more about that closure here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Polish G. I. Delicatessen signage comes down on 1st Avenue