Grimaldi's Owner Tries to Block Patsy Grimaldi's Return

A good, old-fashioned pizza war is flaring up in Dumbo over the space that housed famed coal-oven pizza parlor Grimaldi's. Last fall, Grimaldi's owner Frank Ciolli was forced to close the restaurant at 19 Old Fulton St. following a dispute with the landlord, and move the operation up the block to 1 Front St. Shortly after news broke about the move, Patsy Grimaldi, the legendary proprietor of the original shop, announced plans to return to the pizza-making game with a new restaurant called Juliana, in the old Grimaldi's space on Fulton Street.

Now the Post learns that Ciolli recently filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against Grimaldi, to stop him from opening Juliana because it would create "unfair competition." Grimaldi signed a non-compete clause after he sold the business to Ciolli in 1998, but that expired over three years ago. The lawyer for the Grimaldi family notes, "They were hit hard by the recession and want an opportunity to work again."

If the two parties can settle this dispute, Patsy Grimaldi, who is now 81-years-old, will open Juliana later this year.
· Slicing Off a 'Pizza' the Pie: Grimaldi's Brick-Oven Battle [NYP]
· All Coverage of Pizza Wars [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of Grimaldi's [NYP]
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