NEED TO KNOW
A popular Greek restaurant near Chinatown in N.Y.C. was seized by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance between June 16 and 17
Kiki’s, along with its owner Pavlos Sierros, owe the state of New York over $1.2 million in combined sales and withholding taxes
The restaurant is reportedly operating at an annex across the street despite the main location’s closure
A popular New York City Greek restaurant has been seized by the state for outstanding tax debt.
Kiki’s, a Greek restaurant near Chinatown in New York City, was seized by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance on June 16, Grub Street reported and Bloomberg confirmed with owner Pavlos Sierros.
According to tax warrants reviewed by PEOPLE, the restaurant and its owner, Sierros, owe over $1.2 million in taxes.
Per the New York State Tax Warrants website, Chinatown Greek Food Services LLC, which owns Kiki’s, owes a total of over $607,000 in taxes across six warrants dating from May 2025 to April 2026.
Six warrants for Pavlos Sierros individually and as a responsible person of Chinatown Greek Food Services LLC total over $603,000 from September 2025 to April 2026, making for a total owed of $1.2 million.
Kiki’s is located near Chinatown in N.Y.C.
Credit: Google Maps
The amounts owed include sales taxes and withholding taxes.
As of June 18, the current balance of Chinatown Greek Food Services LLC is around $542,000, and the current balance owed by Sierros individually and as a responsible person of the business is about $523,000. Therefore, the total current balance is over $1.06 million.
Per the photo posted by Grub Street, a sign posted in the window of the building said that the property had “been seized for nonpayment of taxes and is now in the possession of the state of New York.”
“Any person who attempts to tamper or interfere with this property will be prosecuted,” it continued.
A handwritten sign taped up to the other side of the door said, “Kiki’s open across the street!”
Grub Street reported that guests continued to eat Kiki’s at an annex across the street. The outlet reported that staff seemed unaware of the status of the main restaurant.
Comments on the outlet’s post regarding the closure had mixed opinions.
“Not easy running a restaurant. Sometimes it’s even hard paying back taxes that you collect for the city. Hopefully it works out for them and they are back up and running 😁,” one sympathetic commenter wrote.
“Sad but when so many of us suffer so see our income wildly down after paying taxes, only fair everyone has to pay as well – tax evasion isnt cool, same as not paying subway fare, etc etc. USD 1m isnt anything for the volume that this restaurant made,” a more critical commenter said.
“Love the location and sad to hear this, but the last time I went the food was subpar and the portions were sad. RIP the Kiki’s of yore,” one person wrote.
It is unclear whether the closure is permanent. Kiki’s could not be reached for comment.
Opened in what used to be a Chinese print shop, the restaurant serves classic Greek fare like seafood, grilled meats and mezze, according to its website.
Read the original article on People