Gino's Pizza Closes After Four Decades in Downtown Brooklyn
After nearly 40 years of serving up slices to generations of Brooklynites, Gino’s Pizza has officially closed its doors in Downtown Brooklyn, leaving loyal customers grieving the loss of a neighborhood staple.
Located at the corner of Flatbush and Bergen, just up the street from the Barclays Center, Gino’s was more than just a pizzeria, it was a landmark woven into the community’s daily life. Owner Naser Kucevic, who opened the shop decades ago to provide a better life for his family, announced the closure as the end of an era.
“This is my first job and my last, what are we going to do, everything comes to an end,” Kucevic said.
The pizzeria's closure has left a significant mark on long-time patrons who relied on its familiar comfort. Eli Medina, a customer who has been visiting the establishment since its early days, expressed his disappointment upon hearing the news.
“I am an OG, yeah, one of the few,” Medina said. “I saw it on Instagram and I'm like, ‘oh Gino's is closing, oh damn.’ Another one bites the dust.”
Kucevic’s emotional farewell reflects the deep ties the business formed over the years. “I feel very bad, very sad, very sad, we had a lot of happy customers,” he said.
The broader business landscape in the area paints a grim picture. Increasing rent and rising vacancies have strained many local establishments. Evan Franca, owner of Bklyn Crepe and a member of The Flatbush Avenue Business Improvement District, has witnessed the area’s transformation over nearly two decades.
“We've worked really hard to make Flatbush into a thriving district. I've been here for 18 years,” Franca said. “You're going to see this as a ghost town if these landlords don't wake up and be reasonable.”
According to Kucevic, the closure was the result of an unresolvable lease dispute with the new building owner. When the lease ended in December, he attempted to negotiate an increased rent to maintain his business.
“We were paying $10,000 a month. We offered $15; they were asking $25,000,” Kucevic explained. Unable to meet such an increase, he made the difficult decision to walk away.
For many, the concern now shifts to what might replace the beloved pizza shop.
“I hope it's not replaced with some kind of corporate slop or something... or an ATM,” customer Matt Sick commented.
Though the doors at Gino’s are now closed, the memories remain. For Kucevic, those memories represent the dream he lived through the decades.
“It was a dream, everything I had, I'm going to miss this,” he said.