UPDATE: February 11 at 2 p.m.: Barzini’s reopened on Tuesday following a passed health inspection on Monday.
A document posted to the Upper West Side grocer’s door at 2451 Broadway has a large A on it from the state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets.
“The Establishment is in substantial compliance in that no critical deficiencies were observed,” the notice reads.
To remain open, Barzini’s still needs to pass a subsequent health inspection, complete food safety trainings for its employees, and pay off a $14,400 fine.
West Side Rag visited the store on Tuesday afternoon, as employees worked to restock the produce and a handful of customers walked around the aisles.
Original Story
By Gus Saltonstall
The legal teams for Barzini’s and New York state came to an agreement in court on Wednesday to suspend the ongoing litigation between the two parties and create a path for the Upper West Side grocer to reopen.
For those who might not be up to date, Barzini’s at 2451 Broadway was ordered to close by the state on January 13 due to a litany of health violations, including evidence of rodents and food gone bad. Despite this order, Barzini’s originally remained open for seven days, before eventually shuttering its doors.
During the most recent court appearance, Barzini’s stipulated that its business was “open and operating in violations of the Temporary Restraining Order [to close],” legal documents read.
Here is the new set of conditions in the settlement agreed upon in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday, which Barzini’s must fulfill to legally reopen.
Barzini’s must pass a health-code inspection by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Barzini’s will notify the state when they feel ready to pass an inspection, and an inspection will take place on a timeline set by the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
If Barzini’s passes that inspection, they will then be able to reopen, but the store must also meet subsequent conditions to remain open.
Barzini’s will receive multiple inspections over the next two-year period. If it fails two inspections during that period, including the first inspection, the grocer will lose their license and be forced into a “corrective action plan” overseen by the state.
Additionally, all of Barzini’s staff who have supervisory responsibilities, must complete a food safety course by March 28, 2025, according to court documents.
Barzini’s also must pay a $14,400 fine, in $1,600 installments, with the last installment due on or before August 28, 2026.
The Upper West Side grocer will be released from these conditions once it passes two consecutive inspections, its staff completes the safety trainings, and it pays out $8,000 of the penalties owed, with the requirement that the rest of the penalty payment be completed.
If Barzini’s misses any of these payment installments, the store will then immediately owe the full balance of the $14,400, according to the court documents.
You can check out the full settlement for yourself — HERE.
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I saw the biggest rat in my life sauntering around behind the deli case.
I will never forget the time I bought “fresh” peas, that when opened, were filled with the most nausea-inducing slime and foul smells I’ve ever encountered in my entire life.
That building needs to be burned to the ground, and the earth on which it stood doused in bleach and then covered in salt. Maybe burn some sage.
The sage might be overkill.
I am not a fan . There is no reason to advocate for this business to re-open . The owner and his staff are surly and disinterested at best . I have had numerous unpleasant experiences there and stopped going despite the convenience. Bad on them for all of this . They could have made it something wonderful for the community. And yes I saw a huge rat too.
What about all the food left inside for weeks, it is still there! Can they open and sell it? I wonder why this story is not more publicized, many people shopping there are unaware of the dire situation.
I for one hope this works out. I lived near Barzini’s and shopped there around a decade ago and appreciated the variety.
However I went to their Yelp page and sorted the reviews by Oldest First, and there are rat complaints dating to 2008, so I’m not exactly optimistic.
disgusting. shop elsewhere–dont trust them….why not have an Amish Market (chain from lower manhattan) open there?
Good luck passing the initial and follow-up inspections. I don’t think they have the ability. There are still refrigerated food items visible through the windows. There could a good chance this will solve itself.
I agree that the owners/managers should not be allowed to reopen. They have been filthy for years and just finally got caught. The only good thing about this is that the “Ruthless Advice” writers have so much good stuff for their comedy shows at NY comedy club. You should check them out.
Great scoop. I hope others who inevitably piggy back off your reporting give you credit for breaking the story….but sadly they won’t.
This place should not be allowed to reopen. There is so much pest mitigation and complete renovation that must be done.
Good cheese section. Too bad for all of this
Great blue cheese selection
Apparently specializing in ‘aged’ varieties.
Ohhh, stop please, I’m trying to eat here
And, those ‘live, active cultures’!
“We didn’t invent the cheese mold, we just perfected it!”
My money is they will be open tomorrow and take forever to tell the State Ag Dept they are ready for their inspection, continuing to sell expired food as long as possible without changing.
The place needs to be redone from the ground up. I can’t imagine living in the building above this for years.
Then report them to the State.
The damage is done IMO, those pictures that were attached to the lawsuit evidence a complete lack of regard for the health and safety of the store’s customers. That they are reopening for financial reasons does not provide any comfort.
It’s a shame I liked going to Barzini’s for many years. Once I couldn’t find “liquid smoke” anywhere but Barzini’s had it! Yes the place always smelled funky but I thought that was just because of the cheese section. Hope they can turn it around!
Buying food from Barzini only to discover that it was spoiled was far too common. I only buy flowers from there. There is NO WAY that they’ll be able to clear all those hurdles to reopen permanently. They should save everyone the time and just close down for good. My $0.02…
I can’t imagine ANYONE wanting to buy anything from this store, ever again. What was going on there is unconscionable, and YET!! They are reopening? NOPE!!
The cheese in that place makes it smell rancid.
I’ve bought multiple products there where they’ve covered up the “sell by” date with a price sticker. And when I peeled the price off, I found they’d cut the “sell by” date out from the manufactures label!
I think the Corleone family had something to do with all of this…
The smell was never just from the cheese
Exactly. The smell of rat urine was always permeating the air.
I’m happy they’re finally putting this owner’s feet to the fire. His lack of maintenance at this grocery is nothing short of negligent, and the State is doing the right thing now.
The question remains: Why did it take so long for DOH to finally penalize them and close them?
The only way I would consider shopping there is if all the food that is currently on their very full shelves is tossed out. They would need to clean and restock- with new merchandise- before it would feel safe to shop there.
Throw out the food that’s there? Never going to happen. I feel a sale may be coming….
If they were folks who cared, they would have 1/ closed as ordered. 2/reviewed all food on premise, thrown out expired, and bad and donated any/all food to a pantry. Now it’s all gone to waste. At the very least, they could have had a substantial charitable deduction plus fed others. They would have done this if they actually cared about the people they sell to and those who live in the neighborhood. But they don’t. They will not change and they do not deserve a second chance.
Glad to see they will reopen. Never had any probkems there. Wonderful selection of fruits and vegetables, always fresh. But, I’m reminded of
the old joke that goes:
“Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup!”
“Sshh, everybody will want one.” 😂
“Waiter, what’s this fly doing in my soup?”
“Looks like the backstroke, sir!”
“Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup.”
“Meh, how much can he drink?”
(My grandfather’s version)
I confess I’ve never tried their ratatouille.
I’m sorry but this place has been disgusting for years. I find it hard to believe that anything will change. I’d rather see them shut down. Besides, we have Key Foods now.
I have to disagree with most of the comments here and hope that Barzini’s can reopen and stay in business. I haven’t had a bad experience there. They have so many items that I can’t get anywhere else in the neighborhood: some good produce, bulgarian feta, Israeli and middle eastern food (including some fascinating items that are a complete mystery to me), a good selection of butter and yogurt and ice cream and condiments… Yes, some things look sketchy. To me, the positives outweigh the negatives and I would miss them if they were gone.
I quite agree with you. I always was aware of Barzini’s deficits and bought selectively and with caution. I so appreciated the middle eastern foods (especially Israeli feta) and the genuine (yes, not rude to me ever) service. And where else can I shop at 2AM?
I’m not coming to your home for a meal.
Hah!!! 😀
Personally, I would never buy from a food store who’s owner showed this much ‘care’ in maintaining a safe and healthy business. He didn’t give a rat’s a** (no pun) about what he was overcharging for, so why should the public keep this business going? Barzini’s, don’t go away mad, just go away!
I honestly will not go back to that place. The last few times I did buy something it was water and detergent.
Can’t wait for the new store opening at the Northwest corner of W 93rd and Broadway to open.
Where are the sweet kitties that lived in the store?
The owner should be banned from ever owning a store that sells food forever. What a disgrace.
I can’t help wonder whether the re-opening conditions also require a COMPLETE changeover of all their stock – including from back rooms and basement or wherever things are stored – to new and un-ratted-or-roached-on products … because goodness only knows what’s been crawling (and worse) on the packages – even the closed ones – all this time. Every tin and jar would have to be thoroughly disinfected, too. That said, turnaround is possible, as where there’s a will there’s a way. It is a great location for a full grocer, so IF they can clean up, change up, and get their act together to run a safe business, then good for them. Otherwise, I think the risks to the neighborhood outweigh the benefits.
I stopped shopping at Barzinis years ago, because they kept overcharging me. The cashiers seemed to make up prices.
Barzinis has not been good neighbors for decades. Please close them, it is hopeless.
In all likelihood, the cats were there to roam freely—another DOH violation—to help with their pervasive rodent issue. Looking back at the times when I returned something spoiled, moldy or expired, the managers NEVER reacted with any real surprise or genuine regret. Once public trust is broken in the food industry, it is rarely restored.
Barzini, after years of getting away with egregious food safety violations, please just take the handsome profit you’ve made from betraying our neighborhood, and go away. Seriously, you’ll never recover from this. Think of all the undercover health inspectors, the unsolicited offers to employees/suppliers to provide evidence of continued violations, the anonymous tips by disgusted customers posting photos of inevitable violations by you. It’s not worth it for anyone. My $0.02…
Even if they pass health inspections I would never buy a thing from these people.
How can you trust them.
Everything in that store needs to be thrown out.
And never open again.
Really disgusting.
Why should anyone care? Moreover why would anyone shop there again? We hardly live in a “food desert”.
The Health Food store next to Ollies on 89th closed, the kosher marketplace has rank and vile poultry, and the prices at Broadway Farm on 85th are a bad joke. Key Foods (seriously?) on 88th is all that’s left. Not many good options on Broadway between 96 and 81.
I wouldn’t ever buy there again even if made it look bright and spotless, and turned it into a Disney theme park.
Just walked by Sat 4:00, exactly stocked same food 3 weeks ago+ ago., will not throw anything out. Many (most) people are unaware of what the conditions are, there is no Health Dept. signs on doorways.
Are picket lines legal?
Great to see consumer interests being protected. A nominal fine and a slap on the wrist. Will likely to cost tax payers more for the monitoring than the fine the owners received for running a rat farm dressed up as a supermarket. Rather lame consumer protectionism. Like with politics, guess you have to vote with your feet and/or wallets as the system affords little or no protection.
I love it. NYS: Close before someone gets sick. Barzini: No.
Is this going to be a case of putting lipstick on a pig?
This just shows how desperately we need more food stores on the Upper West side that people would actually shop here.
I once stepped on a rat there, accidentally. It didn’t appear to be feeling well – must have had food poisoning.
There is absolutely no way this place passed inspection.
Somehow, it appears they did.
The question now is whether their “A” will outlast a wilting lettuce, possibly one on their shelves.
I cant believe that people are back to shopping at this disgusting cesspool.
Gus and WSR with yet ANOTHER scoop on this story.
Completely devoid of customers @ 3 PM on Tuesday
I’ve never heard of this store before the recent series of articles, but I have to admit that I’m really curious to visit the store (kind of like how people visit Manhattan’s Night Court).
Manager said Gale Brewer is a regular shopper from this store, that explains the deterioration of UWS. not paying attention the surroundings.
Scary. I would never trust that store again.
Their close is imminent. This is just a strategy to collect some owed $ from the owner.
Homemade sushi and beef tartare at my house tonight! All are invited!
Comments here are uninformed and gratuitously critical.
1) Health inspections are unannounced; the shedule of fines, etc, is non-negotiable.
2) Many, perhaps most, food venues (stores, restaurants, fast food) have problems with rodents and roaches – doesn’t excuse not addressing the issue but any prep cook or staff member will tell you it’s a problem everywhere; you really would not like to see what the kitchens are like in many places;
3) The owners were always very nice to me; not always true of some of the check out people, but help is hard to get and keep;
4) Yes, I found some “fresh” food items (fish, meat, dairy) to have suspicious sell by dates, complained, and stopped buying those foods there. I have also bought some items that were moldy or otherwise spoiled (cheese, berries). But that is also true of Whole Foods and Trader Joe.
5) The foods still on the shelves are packaged goods. Perishables were discarded.
6) Barzini’s is a family business of people trying hard to earn a living in a difficult trade. They have a good selection of organic vegetables and some things not found elsewhere. I will be happy to see them reopen and wish them well.
Did you see the photos of the basement from the official health violation report? Don’t do it on a full stomach. It was worse than the worst hoarder’s rooms you’ve ever seen. There is no possible way any person stepping one foot into that space would think it was a safe and clean environment for food storage or preparation, and the fact it was tolerated in that condition for years says a lot about how seriously they took keeping their food safe for their customers. This wasn’t a routine issue that all other businesses face; it was flagrant, intentional, and dangerous negligence. I want to see photos of what the basement looks like now.
How do we know that this is all new items being sold now? And that it would stay that way? I don’t think I’ll ever go back in there