The pizzeria, made popular by one of the most famous and influential openings in film history, is closing its doors on Sunday after 70 years.
Lenny’s Pizza was the diner where John Travolta’s character, Tony Manero, grabbed a bite at the beginning of Saturday Night Fever in 1977 while strutting through his Brooklyn neighborhood.
In the scene, Travolta orders two slices of pizza from a waitress, played by his sister Ann, and stacks them on top of each other while the Bee Gees belt out Stayin’ Alive in the background. Since then, Lenny’s has offered a double-decker-style pizza in honor of the film’s success.
The announcement came on Saturday that the salon would close after hours on February 19 as longtime owner Frank Giordano, an Italian immigrant, decided to retire at the age of 77.
In an ironic twist of fate, the news comes on the same day as John Travolta celebrates his 69th birthday.
Owner Frank Giordano’s daughter, Josephine, announced on Facebook that Lenny’s was closing
In 2018, Lenny’s was chosen as the location for Celebrate John Travolta Day in Brooklyn
“Luckily we did very well and thought it best to close as soon as my dad was ready. It’s time for him and me to enjoy our families. We want to thank everyone who has given us the opportunity to serve them,” Giordano’s daughter Josephine wrote in a Facebook post.
In her post, Josephine, the manager, described the closure as “bittersweet”. Her family is not the original owner, they took over the building in 1983 and now own it.
“This is a very emotional time for us. We ask that you be respectful,” she added.
Lenny’s is located on 86th Street in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn. At the time of the film’s release, the neighborhood was almost 100 percent Italian-American.
Today, the area has seen an influx of Asian immigrants, and several blocks are considered part of Brooklyn’s Chinatown. Josephine Giordano once described Lenny’s as “the last of the Mohicans”.
Curiously, the original Lenny only owned the restaurant until 1959. Josephine said in a 2016 interview that her family never considered changing the name because it was so well known and important to the local community.
She said people come from countries like the UK and Japan to grab a piece and take pictures outside.
“If I had a penny for how many people told me they were here during the film, I’d be rich! There’s always a couple of guys who come and point at the picture of John Travolta and a guy in here and say, “That’s me,” Josephine continued.
She went on to say that many of Lenny’s original clients had moved away from Bensonhurst to places like Staten Island and New Jersey.
Josephine went on to address the issues of the public’s changing dietary habits, the search for good staff and strict health department controls.
In a 2014 interview, Josephine said that after graduating from culinary school, she added gluten-free and whole wheat pizza to Lenny’s menu.
In a 2016 interview, Josephine Giordano said many of Lenny’s original clients had moved away from the Bensonhurst section
In a 2014 interview, Josephine said that after graduating from culinary school, she added gluten-free and whole wheat pizza to Lenny’s menu
Travolta performed at Lenny’s in honor of John Travolta Day. The New Jersey native spoke to the crowd, danced and ate pizza alongside his late wife, Kelly Preston.
‘We love you. We love Brooklyn. Thanks alot. I’m so humbled, it’s unbelievable. I never expected such a big turnout, it was amazing,” the actor told his fans, who chanted, “We want John!” before his arrival.
“Brooklyn has been in my DNA since Welcome Back, Kotter. i love you all so much Thank you for giving me such a foundation for my career,” he added.
On the show Welcome Back, Kotter Travolta played Brooklyn-born high schooler Vinnie Barbarino.
‘We love you. We love Brooklyn. Thanks alot. I’m so humbled, it’s unbelievable. I never expected such a big turnout, it was amazing,” Travolta told the crowd in 2018
“Brooklyn has been in my DNA since Welcome Back, Kotter. i love you all so much Thank you for giving me such a foundation for my career,” he added
Travolta pictured with his late wife, Kelly Preston, devouring some slices
Preston, who passed away in 2020 after a long battle with breast cancer, wrote on her Instagram page at the time: “I’m having a total fangirl moment. Thanks Brooklyn for a crazy day.’
The appearance also coincided with the release of Travolta’s derided biopic about mob boss John Gotti, titled Gotti. The crime boss’s son, John “Junior” Gotti, was present with Travolta at the event.
At a separate celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary, Lenny’s Pizza was served free all night at a nightclub in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
In 2016, the Red Hot Chili Peppers shot part of their music video for the song Go Robot outside of Lenny’s. The theme of the video was a tribute to Saturday Night Fever.
The restaurant’s official website shows the band members posing for photos with the staff.
A few days before the closure was confirmed, Lenny’s and Frank Giordano were featured in an ad campaign for Puma’s collaboration with LA-based designer Rhuigi Villasenor.