Business & Tech

Mastellone's Italian Deli Closing, Gives Space to Pacific Green Gourmet

The last chance to get their salted mozzarella will be Wednesday.

Stop the presses and grab your grocery lists.

Mastellone's Italian Deli, long beloved in Carroll Gardens for its homemade prepared foods, such as eggplant, salted mozzarella and rice pudding, is quietly closing this Wednesday to the surprise of loyal patrons. But in its place another independently owned business will be getting a second shot at retail life.

"The guy over on Pacific was losing his lease, so now he's going to move over here," owner Vincent Mastellone told Patch on Monday afternoon, referring to Billy Solmaz, owner of Pacific Green Gourmet.

Solmaz was recently pushed out of his location at 151 Court Street when the building owner decided to end the lease and bring in preppy chain J.Crew. Many Cobble Hill neighbors had petitioned, protesting the clothing store and there had been reports of a legal battle brewing. But now it looks as though Pacific Green Gourmet will simply be relocating eight blocks down to 303 Court Street.

Solmaz was too busy to offer an immediate comment, but did confirm the move. For his part, Mastellone was incredibly upbeat about shutting his own deli's doors. 

"Life keeps turning. A few people are going to miss us, yes, but what can you do? That's life," he told us. "Things change and this guy needed a new place."

So what is Mastellone going to do once the doors close at 8 p.m. on Wednesday?

"What am I going to do? As little as possible!" he quipped, laughing.



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