Alleva Dairy facts for kids
Alleva Dairy was a very old cheese shop located on Grand Street in the Little Italy neighborhood of Manhattan. It opened way back in 1892, making it the oldest cheese shop in the United States when it closed its doors on March 1, 2023.
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A Long History of Cheese
The business was started by a person named Pino Alleva, who came from Benevento, Italy. For over a century, Alleva Dairy was a special place in Little Italy.
New Owners and a Famous Friend
In 2014, the cheese shop got new owners. An actor and boxing manager named John Ciarcia bought the business with his wife, Karen King. John Ciarcia was also known as Cha Cha and was sometimes called the "unofficial mayor of Little Italy." He was a cousin of the original Alleva family. For a while, the famous actor Tony Danza was also a partner in the shop. Tony Danza was an actor and former boxer whom Cha Cha had managed in the past.
Challenges and Moving On
In April 2022, news came out that the store was having a tough time. The owner, Karen King, was behind on rent payments. This was mainly because of the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people heard about the financial difficulties the shop was facing, and there was worry it might close.
The Closure of the Original Shop
On February 8, 2023, it was announced that Alleva Dairy would close its original Manhattan location the next month. This happened because of a disagreement with the landlord about the unpaid rent. The store had tried to work through its financial issues, and its lease ended in October 2022. The landlord agreed to let go of the old rent money if the store paid a certain amount and moved out by March 5, 2023. This decision ended the shop's time in its original spot after more than 130 years.
A New Beginning in New Jersey
Even though the Manhattan shop closed, the story of Alleva Dairy isn't over! The owner, Karen King, announced that Alleva Dairy would open a brand new location. This new shop will be on Polito Avenue in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. So, the tradition of Alleva Dairy will continue in a new home.
