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Grimaldi’s will serve its final pie — then move next door

Brooklyn Daily

It’s the end of Grimaldi’s as we know it!

The iconic DUMBO pizzeria hailed for its coal-fired oven and Frank Sinatra décor will move next door at the end of the month after a battle with its landlord.

“We’re moving into a bigger, nicer, and cleaner facility,” said Gina Peluso, daughter of owner Frank Ciolli. “It will be nice to have a little more room.”

Grimaldi’s will serve its final pie at its current location on Nov. 28, then open one day later open in 1 Front St. — a former bank turned bar and lounge. The eatery will take over the first floor, while the second floor will remain a nightclub.

But the change comes as no surprise to local pizza-lovers.

Last year, the building’s landlord, Dorothy Waxman, tried to evict Ciolli for falling behind on rent and city taxes.

Instead, a judge ordered her to accept late payments and keep Grimaldi’s open. Waxman’s son Mark, who handles the property, vowed to boot the beloved joint as soon as its lease expired on Nov. 30.

“[Ciolli] tried to re-sign, but his lease is over at this point,” said Waxman, a gastroenterologist in New Jersey. “We’ll announce a new tenant that I think people will be very happy with.”

Grimaldi’s departure leaves some big shoes to fill.

The cramped storefront under the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the city’s top-rated pizzerias, attracting celebrity visits — including First Lady Michelle Obama, TV crews, and a daily line of hungry tourists.

There are no slices — only whole pies served on red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. Foodies go wild over the coal-smoked crust and fresh mozzarella.

Patsy Grimaldi, who learned how to make the tantalizing pies under his pizzaioli uncle, opened the restaurant in 1990. Eight years later, he sold his shop and the name to Ciolli, whose family now also operates offshoots in Manhattan, Queens, Hoboken and Las Vegas.

Ciolli declined to comment about the move, saying only, “There’s a reason I don’t want to get into it.”

The owners and employees shrugged off leaving their original parlor behind.

“We had a lot of customers wearing diapers who are now coming here with their own kids,” said Kris Kierski, a waiter who’s been with the pizzeria for 21 years. “We know they’ll still come in.”

Grimaldi’s [19 Old Fulton St. between Front and Water streets in DUMBO, (718) 858-4300] until Nov. 28. For info, visit www.grimaldisnyc.com and www.no1-frontstreet.com.

Reach Kate Briquelet at kbriquelet@cnglocal.com or by calling her at (718) 260-2511.

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