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Following a troubling report from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Barzini’s, the long-standing 24-hour grocer at 2451 Broadway (between 90th and 91st streets), was ordered to close on January 10 due to “severe insanitary conditions.” Despite this, the store remained open.
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All the outdoor produce was covered with plastic wrap, while garbage bags and boxes filled with trash were scattered throughout the store.
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During our visit, ILTUWS noticed no other patrons inside Barzini’s. We didn’t see any mice, rats, or the store’s cat, but when we approached the register to buy a beer and asked about the “Temporarily Closed for Maintenance” sign, the man at the register stayed silent. Turning to the security guard at the door, we inquired about the closure. He simply said Barzini’s had to get a few things done around the store. When we asked if the closure was related to the recent reports of rats and other violations—and how the store could be closed while we were shopping—the man turned around without a word.
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As we exited through the sliding door, a mouse darted in front of us, heading toward the curb. ILTUWS captured a snapshot of the rodent lingering nearby. The Barzini’s store sign looms prominently in the background, creating a tableau as unsettling as it is revealing.
Barzini’s is officially closed. ILTUWS spoke with an employee on the phone Thursday morning, January 23, who said the store is expected to reopen in a couple of days. During a visit to the grocer that afternoon to confirm the closure, we overheard an employee at the front door telling a woman that the store would reopen on Monday, January 27. Barzini’s must pass a re-inspection by the Department of Agriculture and Markets before reopening.
An attorney for the state of New York has filed a motion to hold Barzini’s in civil and criminal contempt for violating their order to close. The Department of Agriculture and Markets conducted visits to Barzini’s on January 16 and 17 and found the store still in operation. A hearing is scheduled for January 31, and according to documents, no one is permitted on Barzini’s premises until the hearing’s outcome.
If the judge signs the order, Barzini’s could be padlocked by the sheriff.
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Since breaking the news of Barzini’s defying the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ order to close, ILTUWS has been flooded with tips and comments from readers sharing their own disturbing experiences at the store over the years. “I was personally sickened by a moldy chicken wrap from them,” one local wrote. After we released photos from the inspection report showing moldy cheese, gnawed food, and rat nest locations, the feedback kept pouring in. “That place has always had bad energy. The staff always seemed unhappy. These photos are horrifying,” wrote another reader.
ILTUWS has been attempting to reach Barzini’s manager, Parviz Abde, since last week but has yet to receive a response.
“The issue for me is we love Barzini’s,” said Councilmember Gale Brewer on a call with ILTUWS. “We want it to be clean, healthy, and open.” Brewer then pointed to the infractions found by the Department of Agriculture and Markets as unacceptable. She told us she’s not in favor of permanently closing Barzini’s, “But they have a lot of work to do,” particularly in terms of their cleanliness and questionable business practices, such as overcharging credit cards—a matter ILTUWS investigated following reader tips in 2022.
Councilmember Brewer told ILTUWS that one of her friends was shopping at Barzini’s about a week ago. “She was buying bread for the kids, you know, like packaged Pepperidge Farm or something, and she picked it up and found rat marks all through the packaged bread.” Brewer added that her friend didn’t know about Barzini’s reputation for selling suspect food, nor the report from the Department of Agriculture and Markets. “She got a clean one, paid for it, and then she called me hysterical.”
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Brewer noted that the Department of Agriculture and Markets might return to the court system to have Barzini’s closed down if they continue to operate. The term “closed” could simply refer to a temporary closure until the store brings itself up to code, but she wasn’t certain. When we informed her that we were able to make a purchase at the store on the evening of the 20th, she expressed disappointment.
“From produce that quickly spoils to rancid, maggot-filled cheese, Barzini’s has worn me down over the years,” said Jerry Zecker, an Upper West Side local who has been shopping at Barzini’s for 12 years. “I went in a few weeks ago to buy beer, and most of the cans were sticky. I don’t think I’ll be back.”
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I don’t understand Brewer’s comment that “we love Barzinis” and want to see it open and healthy. Why exactly do we love them? The management is immoral, irresponsible, and has let it become a literal rat-infested public health liability that willfully defies orders from the public health department. Shut down the store permanently and give the space to somebody who won’t steal money from customers while selling them cheese that expired before the pandemic.
Exactly.
I’m sure she loves her kickback from the local business would like them to stay open to keep it coming.
So you found your way into a closed store late at night and pushed for the guy there to sell you something? And then you try interviewing the night watchman like he’s the brains of some secret late-night shopping conspiracy? You’re reporting on what you “suspect” to be happening? It really sounds like you have something against this place.
I for one have something against the place: rats.
Good thing they’re taking care of that problem, then
Evidently they’re not quite there yet.
It appears you’re defending the illegal practices of this grocery. What’s in it for you?
Interesting to note comments from other individuals regarding overcharges on credit cards. This happened to me, and it wasn’t noticed (since no receipts) until it showed up in my pending charges that I had been charged somewhere around $50 for a bunch of parsley. A call to the store resulted in no satisfactory response, and I had to go in person. They were not particularly cooperative about reversing the charge; however, after more back-and-forth than should have been necessary, they did so.
I stopped buying there years ago when I saw a rat crawling along one of the upper shelves. But that was even after I KEPT finding expired food, mispriced food, and other issues.
This place has been a rat-infested, badly managed eyesore for years.
I know I will NEVER shop there again, no matter what they do to “pretty it up.” The owner should sell it, and let someone who actually knows how to run a food business take it over and provide properly-priced, unexpired food in a clean and bright store without rats or other vermin.
This place HAS to go. Period.
They’ve always been uncleanly and shady. Ever notice when you buy a “pint” of blueberries that half the package is empty? Not sure if it is the store rats eating them or the ones who own it skimming off the top. But totally representative of this place.
The obloquy against Barzini’s is way over the top. I have been shopping in Barzini’s for many years, and while there are areas of the store into which I see no reason to venture because there are so many better alternatives nearby–the deli, for one–the store has had excellent produce at fair prices. And just try to find a head of radicchio at the D’Agostino! The cheese area is caveat emptor, there are bargains if you know what you’re doing. I once had an overcharge on my credit card–a clerk charged 25.17 when my total was 17.25–but I showed the manager the receipt and he refunded the difference in cash with an apology.
I have had food poisoning twice from rancid food. And had 2 incidents of overcharging. One time the owner gave me a bunch of flowers to ‘appologize’. They were dead the next day.
I no longer shop there.
If they’re open next week, you know this place is still infested. It takes a lot longer than a week to correct the problems they have.
In spite of all the negative aspects about this store, there is one positive aspect that is being overlooked and should be appreciated!
Having stores that are open 24/7 are good for the neighborhood.
Unfortunately, since the pandemic, a majority of the bodegas, diners, and pharmacies that were open have either closed or curtailed their hours.
The vitality and safety of the neighborhood benefits from stores that are open 24/7!
I was checking out with an apple and a pint of ice cream. I asked for s bag. ” outside ” he said. I went out, bagged my stuff and left.
The manager came running after me asking,, did I pay for that,, do I have a receipt,,,He didn’t apologize, just left…
I have always been vigilant about the fact they scratch off expiration dates and use a label gun to create their own. Most of the butter is that way and even jams/preserves have Barzinis expiration dates. I stopped going there years ago except for emergency items. They should be closed permanently. A temporary closure won’t change their ways.
So all that food that’s covered in the photo…are they planning to sell that when they reopen?
Hope the store cat is ok. He/she always seems vigilant and well groomed. I saw a mouse in there once and asked the employee how they had mice when they have a cat. The employee said that all the cat does is eat and sleep.
So happy they’re finally shutting down. They’ve been shady for years—just look it up. People have complained about them taking money from their cards, and everything there was way overpriced. Feels like karma finally caught up with them.
We are so lucky on the Upper West Side to have Key Food where it is clean and shelves are filled with fair priced items!! We do not need a rat infested store with owner/s that are crooks!