ΝΕW YORK – Kiki’s, the popular Greek restaurant on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, was recently seized by New York State over unpaid taxes but appears to continue serving customers from a location across the street.
Opened in 2015, Kiki’s became known for serving affordable, home-style Greek cuisine in a lively downtown atmosphere, and was recognized as being owned and operated by Kiki Karamintzas and Pavlos and Abby Sierros.
As a popular neighborhood spot, TNH previously reported how a photo posted on X by user @alex___hildreth, showed a sign left on the restaurant’s window which stated the restaurant had been seized for non-payment of taxes, noting the reason for the closure.
Kiki’s served customers across the street of its usual location (Photo: Evelyn Karatzas)
According to Bloomberg, the seizure was tied to more than $1 million in unpaid taxes. Bloomberg further reported that, according to a state tax warrant search, the taxes are owed by the restaurant and its owner, Pavlos Sierros. Sierros is also associated with two nearby restaurants, Sherman’s and Forgetmenot, the latter of which has often been described as a sister restaurant to Kiki’s.
At the time the seizure notice was spotted, The National Herald reached out to Kiki’s for comment but did not receive a response.
Kiki’s remains open
Multiple signs hinted at the restaurant’s operations across the street(Photo: Sophia Kikis)
During a recent visit, TNH reporters observed the seizure notice posted on the restaurant’s original location, along with a sign next to it which read “Kiki’s is OPEN across the street.”
After walking across the street, they saw tables full of people enjoying meals as per usual, just steps away from the restaurant.
When they spoke with a staff member who was working at the time about the restaurant and the seizure, the journalists were informed that the restaurant was no longer operating from the original location.
TNH was additionally told that the new space, which is currently occupied by Forgetmenot, is open Thursday through to Saturday after 6 PM, and is “an overflow space” which has its own kitchen and continues to serve food.
People eating at the Kiki’s location across the street from the original restaurant (Photo: Sophia Kikis)
When asked about whether the original Kiki’s location would re-open, as it was known as a popular and beloved spot for many, staff replied “we also love that location, but it has been seized by the Tax Department, as you saw, so it’s really out of our control.”
It remains unclear whether Kiki’s will return to its original location. The National Herald again attempted to contact representatives of the restaurant by telephone and email but did not receive a response before publication.
