Beatrice Inn Partner Is Taking Over John's of 12th Street

Brett Rasinski, a partner at the new iteration of The Beatrice Inn, is planning to take over century-old East Village Italian restaurant John's of 12th Street. The restaurant has been owned by Mike Alpert and Nick Sitnycky since 1972, but Alpert passed away a few months ago, and Sitnycky has decided to retire. Rasinski has been a regular at John's for several years, and the old owners were happy to hand the restaurant over to him.

Rasinski tells EV Grieve: "I can't reveal too much at this point, but I will say that I am approaching this venture as a preservationist...As an East Village resident, and a longtime patron of John's, I understand the historical relevance of the space, as well as the importance of its position in our neighborhood." Alpert's widow, Judy Anderson, also notes: "We're sure that Brett will enjoy the wonderful mix of people that grace our door. And of course, Nick and I are happy to help with whatever assistance Brett needs during the transition."

Hopefully, Rasinski won't mess with the decor, spirit, or menu too much. The restaurateur will go before the CB3's SLA licensing committee next week. For more on the history of John's, check out Brooks of Sheffield's Who Goes There? post from 2009.
· About the New Ownership for John's of 12th Street [EV Grieve]
· All Coverage of John's [~ENY~]