Site Of Riccardo's By The Bridge In Astoria Sold For $6.3 Million

ASTORIA, QUEENS — The event venue Riccardo's by the Bridge, which closed in September due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, has been sold for just over $6.3 million, property records show.

The space at 21-01 24th Ave. was sold to an entity known only as Astoria Park Warehouse LLC, which lists a Woodside address on the deed of sale, records show. The deal closed Dec. 24.

The anonymous buyer also snapped up the neighboring property at 23-91 21st St., a real estate broker told the Astoria Post.

“It was probably one of the fastest land deals I have ever done — 30 days,” Douglas Elliman's Alexander Pereira, who brokered the deal, told the news outlet.

Riccardo's by the Bridge was founded by Richard Corbisiero, Sr., in 1951, and remained family-run for four generations.

In that time, Riccardo's became a part of American pop culture history. Legendary American pop and jazz singer Tony Bennett got his start as a singing waiter there.

But that wasn't enough to save it from the pandemic's economic devastation, which forced it to shutter after nearly 70 years in the neighborhood.

"This decision has been extremely difficult to make, and is solely due to the various impacts of the COVID pandemic," Corbisiero, the founder's grandson, said in a statement at the time. "If it were up to us we would cater your special events forever."