Giovanni Tafuri smiles in front of the newly opened Giovanni’s, which closed last summer after a devastating fire.
Photos courtesy of Giovanni Tafuri
Giovanni’s Brooklyn Eats is officially back in business, much to the delight of locals who welcomed the Italian restaurant’s reopening after a year-long closure due to a fire last June.
The new kitchen, now located diagonally across from its old location at 1666 Eighth Ave. in Park Slope, has undergone extensive renovations to provide the community with a fresh yet familiar dining experience.
Giovanni Tafuri, the restaurant’s owner, said the opening night on August 22 was like a huge reunion for all those who missed Gio’s authentic Brooklyn food.
“Every time the door opened, there was another regular customer. It was just incredible,” he said, noting how the community gathered around the restaurant during the break.
Last year’s fire devastated the original site, prompting Tafuri and his team to find a new place to rebuild. He said he was lucky to negotiate a deal for a vacant storefront across the street.
Over the past year, his team has worked to transform the formerly empty location into a popular Italian hotspot that will be remembered by many.
“The damage was so great that it just wasn’t worth rebuilding the old building,” Tafuri said. “It was a lot of work. This building was practically nothing, and we built it from scratch.”
As guests streamed into the restaurant on reopening day, they were greeted by familiar faces and a warm sense of togetherness. Tafuri shared how special it felt to reconnect with long-time patrons after the unforeseen setbacks.
“It seems like everyone was waiting for us. We didn’t lose anyone,” he told Brooklyn Paper.
The reopening of Giovanni’s is a success for both the community and the owners. One day after the first fire devastated the former establishment, local residents put their heads and pockets together to raise $15,000 for repairs.
“From day one when we had to close, the support from the community and the neighbors has been incredible. They just come by every day,” Tafuri said. “They love the new location. They’re excited.”
Tafuri and his team are excited to welcome customers back with the delicious Italian flavors they have all been missing.
For those who want to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine while supporting a local favorite, Giovanni’s Brooklyn Eats has officially reclaimed its spot in the heart of Brooklyn. The eatery is now open and taking online reservations.
