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Last week, ILTUWS noticed a pair of property listings for the longtime Upper West Side grocery store, Barzini’s. The 24-hour market at 2451 Broadway, between West 90th and 91st Streets, has been around since 1980 and made headlines earlier this year after a failed health inspection forced a temporary closure. The store eventually reopened with an A grade in February. Now, mice or no mice, the food purveyor future appears to be in question.
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ILTUWS spoke with Zach Levin of Icon Realty on Wednesday, September 21. Levin, listed as the broker for the “3,450 SF flagship retail opportunity along one of the Upper West Side’s busiest retail corridors,” told us he could not speak to the press about the listing, citing company policy. According to the property overview, “With broad frontage, heavy daily pedestrian traffic, and a dense residential base, this property is ideal for national retailers, flagship fitness/wellness operators, or large-format service concepts seeking strong neighborhood visibility.”When we spoke with Mirna Abada, the broker listed on a Facebook Marketplace listing, she told us she was simply marketing the listing for the management company, but added that Barzini’s would be closing. Asked if a closing date for the long-running grocery store had been set, Abada said, “I don’t know, it’s a bit vague.” Her listing notes the space is “available immediately,” with “gas and venting already in place.” The awning in the posted picture appears to have been altered, with the Barzini’s name and address removed.
ILTUWS looked into the landlord for the property and uncovered Terrance Lowenberg on WhoOwnsWhat, a site used to get building details. Lowenberg is the principal of Icon Realty Management, where Zach Levin, whom we spoke with earlier, works. The asking rent for the listing is $70,000 per month, or $840,000 annually. Barzini’s name appears on the awning in the listing, which also notes the space is available “immediately.”
On Friday, September 19, we spoke with Barzini’s manager, Parvis Abde, who rejected claims that Barzini’s was closing. During the phone call, Abde said he was short on time and suggested we reconnect on Monday, but added, “Absolutely not, 100%,” regarding the grocery store shuttering.
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It’s possible that Abde and his staff have not been informed of a potential closure. When we contacted City Councilmember Gale Brewer’s office—Brewer had advocated for Barzini’s to clean up its act, noting that a 24-hour grocery store was good for the neighborhood in early 2025—they responded via text, after we shared the listing, “that’s my guess,” referring to the Barzini’s team potentially not being aware of an upcoming closure.We’ll continue to monitor this developing story and update you as more information becomes available.
In 2022, ILTUWS investigated claims that Barzini’s was selling expired cheese and overcharging credit cards—claims that continued to haunt the brand until the failed health inspection in 2025. Since then, complaints had largely dissipated. But is it too little, too late? Late-night food options are sparse in the neighborhood.
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