Despite rumors of imminent closure, Totonno's pizzeria to remain open

The legendary Coney Island coal-fired staple has been around since 1924 and has no intention of shutting down yet

Finally some not-terrible news: Totonno’s is here to stay. One of Brooklyn’s oldest and most legendary pizzerias announced their intention to reopen, quashing wide speculation that the pandemic had driven them to close for good.

The pizzeria’s owners reassured their customers in an announcement on Tuesday:

“In an effort to protect our family members, staff, and customers, we have temporarily closed our Coney Island restaurant, Although we will continue to be temporarily closed at our physical location, we are exploring other options during this time to share our world renowned pizza with the community.”

Established in 1924, Totonno’s Pizza has been serving Coney Island residents for nearly a century and is one of a handful of pizzerias that use a coal fired brick oven.

“I think it has the best pies in New York City,” James Oseland, the former editor in chief of Saveur magazine, told the New York Times in 2012. “That margherita pie there, it is an astonishment. It is truly one of the best pies I’ve had anywhere on earth.”

The Neptune Avenue pizzeria’s forced pivot is just one in a string of recent examples of how the service industry has been forced to adapt to the realities of the pandemic.

“We remain committed to our customers and the Coney Island community and look forward to seeing you all soon,” the statement concludes. “Together we will get through this.”