Greenpoint Staple Paulie Gee’s Is Closing In January To Make Way For A New Tavern—And Locals Are *Not* Taking It Well

Considering we live in the pizza capital of the world, the latest news from Paulie Gee’s feels borderline devastating. The beloved Greenpoint wood-fired pizza institution just dropped a bombshell: it’s closing its doors and making an almost unthinkable pivot from pizza joint to tavern, complete with a brand-new name. First reported by the *New York Post*, the pizzeria at 60 Greenpoint Avenue will close on January 4, 2026 for renovations, with plans to reopen in March. Since opening in Greenpoint back in March 2010, Paulie Gee’s has become a neighborhood legend, known for its inventive wood-fired pies and pilgrimage-worthy status among NYC pizza obsessives. But the space has been quietly evolving in recent years. In 2024, founder Paul Giannone–who still operates Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop just around the corner–handed over ownership to the team behind Brooklyn bar staples like Skinny Dennis, Rocka Rolla, and Turtles All the Way Down. Now, that team is leaning fully into what they know best: bars. The shift from red-sauce mecca to tavern marks the final (and most dramatic) chapter in Paulie Gee’s ongoing overhaul. When the space reopens this spring, it’ll debut with “a cozy new look and feel,” according to an announcement the team shared on Instagram. The post reassures fans that while the name will change, the ownership remains the same and–perhaps most importantly–the pizza isn’t going anywhere: > While the name will change the ownership remains the same team behind your favorite local watering holes and will feature a cozy new look and feel. We will continue to serve the same great Paulie Gee’s wood fired pizza that our community has enjoyed for over 15 years. Managing partner Lina Pinciaro told *The Post* the revamped space will feature a 50-foot bar, a jukebox, a pool table, and plenty of booth seating. With booths lining the front, the tavern will also be open to all ages–so yes, kids and crust lovers alike are still welcome. Naturally, the news hasn’t come without a reaction –we are New Yorkers, after all. The Instagram comments quickly filled with disbelief, confusion, and classic NYC bluntness. “Wait... what? What if I just want really good pizza?” one commenter asked. Another wrote, “Did anybody ask for this?” while a third pleaded, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!! WTF, leave a CLASSIC a CLASSIC. There is a bar for rent next door!” Others zeroed in on the legacy of Paul Giannone himself. “Please keep some recognition of the legend that is Paulie,” one commenter urged. And the team hasn’t dodged the backlash. In the comments, they promised that Giannone will remain involved to ensure the pizza is made “exactly as recipes call,” adding that blending the best elements of their bars with a beloved pizzeria “just makes sense.” Pinciaro also told *The Post* that prices won’t increase after the renovation and that the goal is *not* to make the space more “bougie-fied”–a reassurance that will likely matter to longtime regulars. Whether you’re excited for a neighborhood spot where pizza, drinks, and music collide–or firmly in the camp of *don’t mess with a good pie–*come March, a tavern will be operating where a pizzeria once stood. Until then, you’ve got until January 4 to grab one last slice of Paulie Gee’s exactly as New Yorkers have known (and fiercely defended) it for nearly 16 years. 🍕 Source: https://secretnyc.co/paulie-gees-greenpoint-rebranding-into-tavern-2026/