[
Photo from March]
Rumors started circulating back in January — prompted by the arrival of a retail listing for the space — that the 21-year-old Polish G. I. Delicatessen on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street would be closing. (A for rent sign also appeared in the front window in late March, though we were told that this was not for this space.)
Eater got confirmation yesterday that the Eastern European specialty foods shop will be shutting down at the end of the month.
Polish G.I.'s counterman David Cohen told Eater that they would be taking a two-month vacation and returning with hopes of opening in a new location. "Nothing is sure, but we'll see what happens," he told Eater.
However, multiple readers told us that chef-owner Grace Iwuc was going to retire. In addition,
the listing for the space notes that "the owner is retiring and selling her 10-year lease of $2,600/month."
In any event, here's
New York magazine
with a description of the store:
Polish G. I. Delicatessen is among a disappearing breed of Eastern European specialty-food stores that were once common in the East Village. The initials stand for its sunny owner, Grace Iwuc, who has steadfastly provisioned loyal locals since 1996. The front window is packed with locally baked Polish-style breads, and the narrow but deep space is stocked floor to ceiling with a variety of instant soups, bags of roasted buckwheat, jars of sauerkraut and marinated sweet peppers, and jams imported from Poland.
And
The Village Voice...
It's rare to find a shop like G.I. still active in the city these days, especially in an area as highly developed as the East Village. But even if you’re not a fan of mushroom soup or Old World–style ham, it's worth a visit for a real taste of the neighborhood.