The aroma of crackling Roman-style pizza crusts will no longer drift from the corner of Second Avenue and East 10th Street. This week, regulars of the East Village’s acclaimed Roman pizzeria found the lights off and the doors locked, a handwritten sign announcing the closure taped to the window. For years, this local favorite drew crowds with its rectangular slices, airy dough, and toppings straight out of Trastevere.

The East Village, a neighborhood long renowned for its culinary quirks and immigrant flavors, has always been a proving ground for ambitious restaurateurs. On Thursday evening, passersby lingered outside the shuttered storefront, sharing stories of late-night slices and lively gatherings that once animated the tiled dining room. “We celebrated my daughter’s graduation here,” said longtime resident Marco Santini, shaking his head. “It won’t be the same without their classic pizza al taglio.”

This closure isn’t isolated. According to Eater’s running list, more than a dozen restaurants, bars, and cafes across Manhattan have gone dark since the start of October. Rising commercial rents and the seasonal dip in foot traffic—especially as NYU students settle into a post-summer routine—are squeezing even beloved institutions. For East Village business owners, the loss is both personal and emblematic of broader shifts in the city’s dining landscape.

Still, the block hums with resilience. On Friday afternoon, new cafes and pop-ups buzzed nearby, drawing curious eaters. As autumn breezes rustle the sycamore trees along St. Mark’s Place, neighborhood restaurateurs are watching closely, wondering who might take up the vacant space—and whether the next chapter will honor the spirit of Roman hospitality that briefly flourished here.

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