Kefi, the popular Greek eatery on Columbus Avenue between 84th and 85th street, has been closed for almost the entire year because of a busted water pipe. The water pipe broke on January 26, flooding the restaurant’s basement level over the banquettes, according to a Crain’s article. It took three months for the gas to come back.
Kefi shares a building with Casa Pomona, a Spanish tapas place owned by Sid Gupta of Village Pourhouse and Marion Maur that had been open just a few months when the pipe busted. Casa Pomona, as we’ve reported, is set to open in the next couple of weeks. The Casa Pomona owners have persevered despite a myriad of challenges, including a lapsed certificate of occupancy at the building, which delayed their opening last year. But Kefi, whose owner Michael Psilakis also had a restaurant destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, will take longer. As Crain’s reported:
“Meanwhile, Mr. Psilakis has another several months of work before he can unveil the new Kefi. Workers have begun to replace waterlogged walls with new drywall, while Mr. Psilakis spent a recent afternoon picking out new tiles for the restaurant.”
Psilakis said “We will be building a brand-new restaurant.” The Crain’s article doesn’t go into other problems at Kefi, including a lawsuit by a former employee over wages and a failed health inspection.
Kefi was one of the best family spots in the neighborhood at its height. Hopefully it will regain that glory.
Photo by Serious Eats.
Following this story closely… The closed Kefi left a huge hole in our neighborhood. I really miss that place, and look forward to seeing what they create next (and hopefully soon!)