Little Italy Says “Addio” to Historic Cheese Shop

10 things to know about Alleva Dairy closing its doors after 130 years

Manhattan’s Little Italy is losing another one of its neighborhood institutions to the backlog of rent caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Alleva Dairy, located on the corner of Mulberry and Grand streets, is closing down for good after falling behind on rent. The historic business has been around since 1892 and is widely considered to be the United States’ oldest dairy shop. Alleva’s last day in Little Italy will be March 5. 

The 130-year-old shop sells a wide variety of imported Italian cheeses, such as mozzarella and ricotta, as well as cured meat and cannolis. The business’ motto was “sei parte della famiglia” – you are a part of the family.

“After a remarkable 130 years, my beloved Alleva Dairy will no longer be on the corner of Mulberry and Grand Street in Little Italy, New York,'” said owner Karen King to The New York Post. “I was really hoping that this day would never come and it’s a sad one.”

Here is everything to know about the Little Italy institution closing its doors on March 5:

• Alleva has been struggling to make its $23,756 monthly rent payments since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The cheese shop accumulated about $628,000 in back rent since the beginning of the pandemic.
• In July 2022, Alleva’s owner, Karen King, set up a GoFundMe to help pay some of the money back. Her goal was $35,000, but she only managed to raise $6,313.
• According to GoFundMe, during the pandemic’s height, Alleva “provided food for those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.”
• In April 2022, Alleva’s landlord filed a suit in the Manhattan Supreme Court asking for permission to evict the business if they were unable to pay off the debts. 
• Scores of celebrities have frequented Alleva’s in the past, including Leah Remini, Michael Imperioli, Alice Cooper, and Joey Reynolds. Sebastian Maniscalco was a fan of the shop’s sausage and peppers, according to The New York Post.  
• According to Alleva’s website, the shop was founded in 1892 by Italian immigrant Pina Alleva, who immigrated from Benevento, a city in the southern Campania region.
• Alleva’s has been a family run since 1892.
• Although devastated, King told NBC New York that “"We may be losing the location and you never know, maybe we’ll have a miracle but the quality of what we present here and the food that we make and what people come to us for, I’m taking that with me.”
• She plans on opening an Alleva Dairy at another location.

Information has been sourced from The New York Post, NBC New York, and abc7NY.