Oldest cheese store in America to shut after over a century in enterprise
Alleva Mozzarella in New York Metropolis is closing its doorways after 130 years.
The oldest cheese store in the US is about to shut after greater than a century in enterprise, following what the proprietor described as disagreements with the owner coupled with the results of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in New York Metropolis.
Alleva Dairy, positioned in New York Metropolis’s Little Italy neighborhood, was established in 1892.
“We’ve got to shut as a result of I could not come to an settlement with the owner and it was very powerful — and likewise, the pandemic harm us terribly,” proprietor Karen King instructed “Fox & Buddies” this week.
“It was a wrestle for the primary two years,” King stated, referencing the pandemic.
CONNECTICUT FAMILY BUSINESS SHUTTING ITS DOORS AFTER 11 YEARS, BLAMES INFLATION, COST OF LABOR
“I attempted to pay her,” she stated, that means the owner. “And we tried to make a couple of offers. She wasn’t accepting something, after which it was outrageous, what she did.”
The owner stated the shop owed greater than $600,000 in again lease, King famous.
Dealing with this, Alleva Dairy then filed for Chapter 11 chapter.
Karen King, proprietor of Alleva Dairy, appeared on “Fox and Buddies” on Friday, Feb. 10, to clarify how the COVID-19 pandemic crushed her enterprise. (Fox Information / Fox Information)
“I solely filed Chapter 11 to possibly come to an settlement together with her — that’s the reason I filed it, to possibly push her to do one thing,” King stated. “We tried, and we could not.”
The COVID pandemic was “the worst expertise of my life, and my individuals who work for me, and the tenants,” stated King.
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY INFLATION IS CRUSHING THEIR BUSINESS: ‘OUT OF CONTROL’
“There was no one within the streets. There was actually nobody out,” she stated, including that her retailer and others prefer it in Little Italy depend on tourism to remain alive.
“I solely closed possibly two months through the pandemic,” stated King — who then pivoted her focus to feeding the neighborhood.
She introduced on a chef in 2021 who would “make connoisseur Italian meals [for] cheap costs,” she stated.
New York Metropolis’s Alleva Dairy is the oldest cheese store in the US. (Fox Information / Fox Information)
“They may order from us, and we would ship the whole lot out,” stated King.
King and her husband bought Alleva Dairy from the unique homeowners in 2014. King stated her husband was often called the “unofficial mayor of Little Italy.”
LADY GAGA’S DAD REVEALS THE LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT THAT MADE HIM THE ‘LUCKIEST’ GUY IN THE WORLD
“He was born and raised there; he liked that neighborhood. He was an actual man for the Italian tradition and heritage,” she stated.
A classic image of Alleva Dairy in New York Metropolis’s Little Italy. (Fox Information / Fox Information)
King stated there are plans to reopen Alleva Dairy at a brand new location.
“I have been wanting round, I have been looking … and looking for the appropriate spot,” she stated.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“Alleva is the guts of Little Italy. It is like an establishment there. And the situation is essential, solely as a result of we’re there 130 years,” stated King.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
“However the high quality of what we have now to supply — we’re taking that with us,” she added.
