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The pizzeria popularized by one of the most famous and influential premieres in movie history will close its doors on Sunday after 70 years.
Lenny’s Pizza was the place where John Travolta’s character Tony Manero stops for a bite to eat while strutting around his Brooklyn neighborhood in early 1977’s Saturday Night Fever.
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 as the Bee Gees sing Stayin’ Alive in the background. Since then, Lenny’s has offered a ‘double deck’ style pizza in honor of the film’s success.
It was announced on Saturday that the salon would close at the close of business on February 19, as long-time 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 that John Travolta celebrates his 69th birthday.
Owner Frank Giordano’s daughter, Josephine, made the announcement on Facebook that Lenny’s was closing
In 2018, Lenny’s was chosen as the site of Celebrate John Travolta Day in Brooklyn
“Fortunately we have done very well and we felt it was best to close once my father was ready. It’s time for him and I to enjoy our families. We want to thank everyone who has given us the opportunity to serve you,” Giordano’s daughter, Josephine, wrote in a Facebook post.
In her post, Josephine, who is the manager, called the closure “bittersweet.” Her family are not the original owners, they took over in 1983 and now own the building.
‘This is a very emotional moment for us. We ask you to be respectful,’ she added.
Lenny’s is located on 86th Street in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. At the time of the film’s release, the neighborhood was almost 100 percent Italian-American.
These days, the area has seen an influx of Asian immigrants and some blocks are considered part of Brooklyn’s Chinatown. Josephine Giordano once described Lenny is like “the last of the Mohicans.”
Interestingly, the original Lenny only owned the restaurant until 1959. Josephine said in a 2016 interview that his family never considered changing the name because of how well known and important it was to the local community.
She said people come from places like the UK and Japan to grab a slice and take pictures outside.
‘If I had a dime for the number of people who tell me they were here during the movie, I’d be rich! There are always some guys that come up and point to the picture of John Travolta and a guy here and say, “That’s me,” Josephine continued.
He went on to say that many of Lenny’s original clients have moved from Bensonhurst to places like Staten Island and New Jersey.
Josephine went on to discuss the problems of the public’s changing dietary habits, the search for good staff, and rigorous health department checks.
in a 2014 Interview, Josephine said that after graduating from culinary school, she added whole wheat and gluten-free pizza to Lenny’s menu.
In a 2016 interview, Josephine Giordano said that many of Lenny’s original clients had moved out of the Bensonhurst section.
In a 2014 interview, Josephine said that after graduating from culinary school, she added whole wheat and gluten-free pizza to Lenny’s menu.
Travolta made an appearance at Lenny’s in honor of John Travolta Day. The New Jersey native spoke to the crowd, danced and ate pizza with his late wife, Kelly Preston.
‘We love you. We love Brooklyn. Thank you very very much. I’m so honored, it’s amazing. I never expected such a large turnout, it was incredible,” the actor told his fans who had been singing “We love John!” before his arrival.
‘Brooklyn has been in my DNA since Welcome Back, Kotter. I love you all very much. Thank you for giving me that foundation for my career,” he added.
On the show Welcome Back, Kotter Travolta played Brooklyn native high school student Vinnie Barbarino.
‘We love you. We love Brooklyn. Thank you very very much. I’m so honored, it’s amazing. I never expected such a big turnout, it was unbelievable,’ Travolta told the crowd in 2018.
‘Brooklyn has been in my DNA since Welcome Back, Kotter. I love you all very much. Thank you for giving me that foundation for my career,” he added.
Travolta pictured with his late wife, Kelly Preston, wolfing down a couple of slices.
Preston, who passed away in 2020 after a long battle with breast cancer, wrote on her Instagram page at the time: “Having a total fangirl moment.” Thanks Brooklyn for a crazy day.
The appearance was also timed to coincide with the release of Travolta’s much-maligned biopic about mob boss John Gotti titled Gotti. The mob boss’s son, John ‘Junior’ Gotti, was present with Travolta at the event.
In a separate celebratory event for the film’s 40th anniversary, Lenny’s Pizza was served free all night at a nightclub in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
While in 2016, the Red Hot Chili Peppers filmed part of their music video for the song Go Robot outside of Lenny’s. The theme of the video paid homage to Saturday Night Fever.
The restaurants official website it shows the band members posing for photos with the staff.
A few days before the closure was confirmed, Lenny’s and Frank Giordano appeared in an ad campaign for cougar collaboration with Los Angeles-based designer Rhuigi Villaseñor.