$70K Raised For West Village Italian Restaurant In Danger Of Closing

WEST VILLAGE, NY — Nearly $70,000 has been raised through the community for a beloved West Village Italian restaurant that has served customers in the neighborhood for 30 years.

Piccolo Angolo, which sits at 621 Hudson St., created a GoFundMe last week saying in order for the restaurant to stay open, it needed to make a significant payment toward back rent accumulated during the COVID pandemic.

"It is very hard to write this note but in order for Piccolo to stay open, we must. My family and I are asking for your assistance," wrote the Migliorini family who owns the restaurant. "We have been working day in and day out for the last year to catch up on back rent from the pandemic."

The Migliorini's added that the general cost of doing business in the city had also gone up, and the restaurant's lease expired on Sept. 30. The family wouldn't be able to resign it without making a "substantial payment" toward the back rent.

In the six days since the GoFundMe was posted, 358 people have donated $68,275. It is less than $2,000 away as of Wednesday morning from its goal of $70,000.

The words of support flooded in for the West Village Italian spot.

"We love you and your friendship, food and impact you’ve made on us and the NYC community," the Carrie Brzezinkski-Hsu family wrote on the fundraiser.

"You fed me for years like a mother, and now it's a family tradition to come visit as often as we can. We are happy to help, and know many other feel exactly the same," Kristopher McDaniel wrote on the GoFundMe.

The word "warmth" was used multiple times by people donating to describe Piccolo Angolo.

"Thank you for all of the warmth and joy you've brought to so many of us over the years," Tara Crosson wrote. "You'll get through this difficult patch, I have no doubt about that."

Piccolo Angolo hopes it will be able to stay open through Nov. 14, which is the 30th anniversary of the restaurant's opening.

You can find out more Piccolo Angolo on its website.