Beloved Italian Institution To Close After 55-Year Run In Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY — After more than 50 years in Bensonhurst, the iconic Bari Pork Store will close its doors for good at the end of the month, the owners announced this week.

The shop, a neighborhood staple since 1969, is run by co-owners George Firantello and Tony Turrigiano and is known for its traditional Italian fare, homemade sausage and old-school neighborhood charm.

The store sits at 6319 18th Ave., at the corner of 64th Street in Bensonhurst.

While the closure came as a surprise to many in the community, Firantello and Turrigiano said that after decades in business, increasing costs and shifting neighborhood dynamics have made it unsustainable to continue operating.

"The current state of steadily decreasing customers patronizing our store, inflation, and the cost of products to stock the store have all contributed to the decision to close," the owners said on social media. "Bari Pork Store has been in constant depreciation, making it increasingly difficult to sustain our business."

"Unfortunately, the phrase, ‘support your local small businesses,’ has fallen on many deaf ears,” they added.

Bari Pork Store’s closure is part of a broader trend of longtime neighborhood institutions disappearing.

A recent Bensonhurst Brooklyn Commercial District Needs Assessment noted that local businesses continue to cope with reduced foot traffic due to COVID-19, which has negatively impacted shopping experiences and altered the habits of both merchants and residents.

Bensonhurst is currently facing an 11.7 percent storefront vacancy rate, with officials emphasizing the need for more opportunities for merchants to organize, support commercial revitalization efforts, and advocate for streetscape improvements along the neighborhood’s commercial corridors.

"While we are greatly saddened by the closing of Bari Pork Store, we are grateful for the memories, laughs, relationships and experiences we have gained throughout the years," Firantello and Turrigiano said. "We will cherish this forever in our hearts. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey."

Bari Pork Store will officially close on June 30.