closings

West Village Institution Pó Has Closed

Photo: Courtesy of Po

After 24 years, served its final Italian meal last night, owing to a whopping 120 percent increase to the $10,000 per month rent. Owner Steven Crane opened Pó with Mario Batali back in the early ’90s (Batali then left the project to open Babbo), and it’s been a neighborhood mainstay ever since. Last night, during the restaurant’s final service, Pó really looked alive, with joyous patrons pouring in and out of the restaurant. (Grub walked by, noting that the block must have a nice landlord if Pó is still in business. Yes, you can blame Grub for putting a curse on Pó.) Crane tells Eater: “I’m bummed. It’s not the way I wanted to go out.” With the closing of Annisa next month, this is another hit for the West Village.

West Village Institution Pó Has Closed