The wait is over for Brooklyn’s pizza aficionados as the legendary L&B Spumoni Gardens has served up its first slices at the new Dumbo location, following a five-year period filled with anticipation and delays. Perched at 46 Old Fulton Street, nestled between Elizabeth Place and Hicks Street, this marks a major move for the South Brooklyn pizza institution that began its journey back in 1939, according to Eater.
Initial plans for expansion were brought to public attention half a decade ago however, intricate issues with city regulations, including the addition of a problematic staircase, and interruptions courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic prolonged L&B's entrance into the pizza-heavy neighborhood of Dumbo, a struggle that was extensively documented by the Brooklyn Paper. The staircase, which encroached upon the sidewalk, embodied a substantial impediment ultimately leading to demolition to align with city standards, a saga that unfolded over the summer months as onlookers eagerly speculated an opening in the fall.
Having hurdled over the logistical obstacles, the famed establishment now throws its doors open, ushering in a new chapter and extending the L&B legacy post the tragic murder of co-owner Louis Barbati in 2016. The incident has been shrouded in mystery and was even featured in an Oxygen true crime documentary last year sparking conversation about the establishment's rumored mob connections.
The unveiling of the new location was greeted with social media fanfare and a slice of optimism—L&B Spumoni Gardens beamed on Instagram, "After much anticipation, we're thrilled to bring our iconic Sicilian pizza, classic Italian favorites, and famous Spumoni to the heart of DUMBO," a sentiment that resonates with the many locals and tourists who've simply for this moment, the landscape of pizza purveyors in Dumbo is a rich tapestry with the likes of Grimaldi’s and Juliana’s already established, each offering their distinct take on the classic New York slice. Joe Ciolli of Grimaldi’s once remarked, “It’s a different style of pizza. We have lines all the time — people come from all over the world,” reflecting a sentiment of welcoming diversity in the pizza scene, as quoted by the New York Post.
