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A popular sandwich shop is set to start slinging hoagies inside a Studio 54-themed bar in the Upper East Side after it was suddenly bounced from its former home down the block.
Roman Grandinetti, the genius behind the beloved Italian eatery Regina’s Grocery, is hoping his new joint venture with Ethyl’s Bar and Grill will boost nightlife back to the sleepy Manhattan nabe and put all the local drama in the rearview.
The shop, which has several locations stretching across the Big Apple, was evicted from its sublease this month after the legal tenant failed to pay nearly $300,000 in rent over two years, The Post has learned.
“S–t happens. This is a New York story. It is part of the game,” Grandinetti said.
“I think it was a cool opportunity. We took advantage of it. We rolled the dice. … I think this opportunity wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the [situation] that we were in. This is what New York is. This is a New York story. This is a New York moment.”
The drama came to light after an eviction notice was plastered outside 1698 2nd Ave. this month, ordering Regina’s Grocery and tenant Olde Bagels, owned by Tommy Brunton, to vacate the premises.
The pair failed to pay rent and thousands in late charges from February 2024 through August 2025, racking up arrears totaling $329,786.11, according to court papers.
To make matters worse, Grandinetti had been paying $3,750 per month to carve out a section of the two-room commercial space that landlord Grace Jean claims Brunton illegally sublet — while he spent two years trying to construct the remaining area into a dream bagel shop.
“He would just give me all these excuses like, ‘Oh, I’ll pay on Thursday.’ Then he’ll call him Thursday, saying, ‘I have a meeting in Philadelphia. I can’t meet you.’ And so he’s stood me up a couple of times,” Jean said.
But Brunton instead pointed to numerous violations the building racked up that prevented him from moving forward with construction — and claimed his lease said he didn’t need to pay rent during times of inactivity.
“When you see the building on the news and the facade falls down and my contractor is telling me I can’t pull the permits, I think it’s legit,” he said, pointing to the two complaints and three open violations lodged against the building, records show.
Additionally, Jean loved the idea of moving Regina’s Grocery into the space while they worked out the kinks, according to Brunton, who claims he passed along Grandinetti’s rent in lump payments.
Neither Brunton nor Jean provided the contested lease to The Post despite numerous requests.
Grandinetti, however, is washing his hands of the mess, telling The Post he doesn’t plan on getting involved in any court drama.
“We’re really just trying to have some fun and turn a negative into a positive. This industry is hard. The world is in a funny place,” said Grandinetti about his new venture.
Grandinetti opened up a Regina’s Grocery outpost inside Ethyl’s Bar and Grill Thursday and began slinging hot sandwiches like chicken parm and spicy vodka alongside espresso martinis and Negronis on tap — which he wasn’t able to do at the prior location because of the infrastructure issues.
The funky 1970’s-themed bar is owned by a former Studio 54 doorman, making it the perfect spot for the sandwich shop, which is named after Grandinetti’s disco- and dancing-loving mother.
“Regina’s is my mother. Regina’s is what I love. It’s like the pride of my family, so when this all kind of happened, I took it in stride,” said Grandinetti, a self-described “neighborhood saver” who is looking to bring nightlife back to Yorkville.
The spot is the fourth location for Regina’s, following outposts in Bed-Stuy, Nolita and the Lower East Side, but will be the first to serve up booze and nights of dancing.
“I’m kind of excited to have this,” he said. “The alcohol and party element just make it fun. I think in New York City has lost that world.
“Nightlife has kind of disappeared, and it was such a big thing and a pinnacle for my mother at that time.”
— Additional reporting by Peter Senzamici
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