Barbarini Owners Hope for Fresh Start on Higher Ground

After discussing his options with his landlord, Barbarini Alimentari co-owner Claudio Marini has decided to walk away from the South Street Seaport. Barbaraini suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Sandy, and the rebuilding process has been slow. Marini and his wife also lost a lot of money because of the storm.

The restaurant was owned and operated by the Marinis and their business partners Adriana and Stefano Barbagallo, but now it sounds like the couples are going their separate ways. Mr. Marini tells Eater:

I'm ready for a fresh start...We're walking away from the place without anything, that's the next step that I have to focus on...We're not out of the lease, but I am mentally out. I think the offer from the landlord wasn't very inviting...We are out, but not on paper yet.

He hopes to reopen in a new location, but with a slightly different concept. Claudio notes: "I cannot reveal too much, but authentic Italian food, maybe like how it was...It's going to be a nice welcoming place that's going to be a big investment in our lifetime." Marini says that he hopes to reopen somewhere close to the Seaport, but not in an area that is as susceptible to flooding.

At this point, It is unclear whether Adriana and Stefano Barbagallo, the other half of Barbarini, will reopen the restaurant by themselves. Yesterday, Adriana told Eater that "there isn't Barbarini without the complete team." Now Claudio says:

I think that we are separating in a very friendly way, but we are going in our own directions. But after a while, you realize that you have a different point of view, this is why we act differently...It's very painful for us. I don't want to take too much credit, but we did improve and grow in what is a lost area now. We had the right people on the floor, and we were really rocking.

The restaurant was something of a pioneer for the neighborhood when it opened in 2006. Barbarini is also the only Seaport restaurant to ever land on the Eater 38.

Both the Marinis and Barbagallos set up online fundraising campaigns after the storm, which are still active.
· All Coverage of Barbarini Alimentari [~ENY~]
· All Coverage of Hurricane Sandy [~ENY~]
· Da Claudio, Life after Sandy [Go Fund Me]
· DONAGALLO [Small Knot]
[Photo: Lockhart Steele]

Barbarini Alimentari

225 Front St., New York, NY