So at 5.35pm we called Aiello’s Pizza a few doors up on 3rd Ave to order a pizza for the kids. Normally we either go and collect it or eat it there. We were planning to do the latter, but this time we decided to have it delivered as we the kds weren’t ready. As it turned out we probably made the last call to place an order at Aiello’s. Five minutes later we noticed smoke coming up from a building close to a Chinese restuarant that caught fire on Friday, which is next to Aiello’s. This time it was Aiello’s turn to mysteriousy catch fire.
I have quite a few pictures from above and around the fire as it developed, here.
It took about 90 mins before it was put out but the place is gutted.
The other side of Aiello’s is a sound stage called Farkas Films. After years of little drama other than that which might be filmed inside, it received a notice that the place had to close and the building was being demolished. Coincidence? Well this is Manhattan real estate and people will do almost anything when chasing a buck, especially in a market we’ve been experiencing over the past few years.
Aiello’s pizza was by far the best round here, but I fear we may have seen the last of it, for whatever reason.