Restaurants & Bars

Beloved Park Slope Restaurant Remains Closed After Weekend Fire

Supporters of Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats rolled out nearly $40,000 in dough, and counting, to help the eatery rebuild after a damaging fire.

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qat img caption ([Kristin Borden/Patch])

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — A beloved Italian restaurant in Park Slope institution will reopen after a devastating fire this weekend, its owner vowed.

Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats on Eighth Avenue sustained "significant damage" in a blaze Saturday that ignited in its kitchen, according to a fundraiser that seeks to raise $50,000.

The fire forced owner Giovanni Tafuri to close his restaurant. But, as the GoFundMe's organizer wrote, Tafuri isn't giving up.

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"Although stunned by recent events, he has once again vowed to continue serving his popular dishes and entertaining the people he cares about," the GoFundMe states.

"And everyone who's experienced the magic of this special place wants to see it remain open. Any help is greatly appreciated."

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And it appears Giovanni's fans have indeed stepped up.

The fundraiser raised nearly $40,000 as of Monday afternoon.

The blaze began Saturday at 11 a.m. and spread through its duct work, according to FDNY records. More than 100 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the fire inside the Eighth Avenue building near Prospect Avenue.

No injuries were reported in the fire, FDNY officials said. They didn't provide a cause to the fire when asked by a Patch reporter.

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