Ken of Greenwich Village Daily Photo says, by way of his Facebook page, that "After 60 years in business Joe's Dairy will close Saturday, citing poor walk-in sales. Their wholesale business will remain."
A call to the store confirms they're open today and tomorrow until 6:00pm--and then it's over.
I wrote a little about Joe's and its across-the-street neighbor, Pino's, in 2009. We're talking about the loss of one of the last pieces of an almost completely vanished Italian neighborhood.
In this film by Brian Dube, he talks to the Joe's Dairy guys. They discuss the day when Joe's will eventually close and how the city has been "yuppified." Dube says, "We want to be way, way back. You want to be at the Gap, Starbucks, or you want to be way, way back?"
"Oh no, please," says the owner. "Who wants to pay $7 for a cup of coffee?" God forbid that's what comes to this space next.
Go to Joe's today or tomorrow for a last, fresh, handmade mozzarella sandwich. And fuck Soho while you're at it.
Here's how they make the mozzarella.
God damn it all to hell.
ReplyDeleteThis is another one that hurts. The smoke coming up from the basement around noon-1 p.m. was like a new papacy daily. Richie’s candy store next door was another treasure, long lost.
ReplyDeleteI am as guilty as anyone, though, as to the shop's closing. I loved that it was there, but very rarely went in and bought anything.
Still miss Grace.
Why do I bother even reading your blog since everything makes me mad!
ReplyDeleteWhenever I wanted to make an interesting dinner, I would hit up both Joe's and Pino's. The sad part is that there really is nothing special about either place. Those kinds of places used to be the norm. But out with the old and in with the new. The storefront is too small for a 7-11.
Went today and got the second to last sandwich. :(
ReplyDeletesecond to last??? you're kidding me, right? i want one.
ReplyDeleteAw, sheet. I loved when they would take out that huge cleaver and cut you a chunk. I must chime in, though, and say that Raffetto's around the corner on Houston has excellent mozz and good prices. It is a very old Mom and Pop business so support it and hopefully THAT one will be around for a long time.
ReplyDeleteJust sadder and sadder.
ReplyDeleteMenge butano!
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS knew that Koch should have instituted rent conrol OF landlords!
loved that place. great cheese, nice envirement. maybe a cell phone store? frozen yogart? keep on top of this
ReplyDeletepart one was amazing. i was captivated, played some parts again & again. these are real people w/something to say. good choice. (far cry from those sleezy dumb groupie girls from queens). thankyou for this documentry.
ReplyDeleteSad to see another one go. Glad Russo's is still among us; it's over on East 11th Street near 1st Ave., in case you don't know the place; not the same neighborhood, but they still have fresh mozz...
ReplyDeleteThis one is especially harsh. The South Village and Soho together comprised a forgotten Little Italy, the remaining traces of which have for long been far more authentic, and far less tourist-riven, than the few blocks to which the "Little Italy" moniker were appended. Raffetto's and a few other places linger on, but one gets the increasing feeling that they are all doomed.
ReplyDeleteSo let's all remember to go to Pino's while it's still there. It's just as old, maybe older than Joe's was and a true part of the neighborhood. For vegetarians they have great turkey.
ReplyDelete...The "Littler" Little Italy of East 10th-11th and 1st Avenue is also vanishing bit by bit. Those of us who have lived over here for a long time have seen it happen, too.
ReplyDeleteSome of this is just the way tastes change -- we may be a minority, but at least we are not alone...
Dans le New York d'aujourd'hui, plus ça change, plus ça reste la même chose. Oy vey gevalt!
ReplyDeleteThat is nothing short than a crying shame. What's left of "classic" New York? Believe me, centuries from now, archeologists will not pick up a wrapper marked "POLLY-O" and get any idea of what being Italian meant.
ReplyDeleteI have just read your blog with much sadness. As someone living in England I came to NY for my first trip in 2007 to watch hockey and sample some of the things I grew up with on TV shows.
ReplyDeleteI have the fortune to stumble on Joe's Dairy back then on a cold January morning, bought some smoked mozarella and went in search of a local bar to have a drink and taste it. Wow! It really was worth the trip alone to do that.
Now, planning another trip some time in the next hockey season I learn that Joe's will not be there. Such a shame.
Watching the video also makes me think of where we are all going? Local food and ethnicity based retailing is one of the reasons why people travel to new countries and cities - to sample the things that are different. These days in England we have Starbucks, Gap etc and so we only need go to our local town and we have pretty much the same as you guys anywhere in America.
My next trip will most definitely be less of a stay in Manhattan (I am an Islanders fan after all!) and I will go and stay in the Boroughs and seek out the things that have moved/been forced out of Manhattan.
Hopefully, I will find more than a bunch of Starbucks and global logo's.. Hopefully..