New Downtown Italian Sandwich Spot Coming To Yorkville

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Once a center of German sausage and beer, Yorkville is quickly becoming a destination for lovers of the artisanal sandwich, with a handful of new spots opening just this year.

Now a new downtown spot has just signed a new lease, according to TradedNY

Greenwich Village favorite, La Panineria, has just signed off on a new location at 322 East 81st Street, between First and Second avenues.

According to TradedNY, the tiny, 400-square-foot space was leased for a rent of $48,000.

First reported by East Side Feed, a worker reportedly told the local news site that the sandwich spot hopes to open in February, and that it's technically a relocation of their second shop, currently in Brooklyn.

But more and more people these days are acknowledging that Brooklyn is over, and the Upper East Side is the new scene.

La Panineria first opened just steps above Washington Square Park in 2014, but its roots can be traced back to the old country.

Owner Mario Pesce is a native of Naples, Italy, and he's not the only member of the family in the food business, according to Grub Street.

One great-uncle runs a Chelsea Market Italian food shop, Buon Italia. Another was the late Tony May, the man credited with delivering Italian fine dining to New York City and operated the heralded San Domenico on Central Park South.

La Panineria will be the third new sandwich spot announced in Yorkville this year, with Brooklyn's La Sandwicherie and downtown's Regina's Grocery opening on East 85th and 88th streets respectively, both near longtime standby Milano Market.

At the other end of the neighborhood, world famous Florentine sandwich shop All’Antico Vinaio opened a new outpost on East 60th Street.