Alidoro, a staple of New York City’s culinary landscape, is stepping up its retail footprint with two major real estate acquisitions in prime Manhattan commercial hubs.
The celebrated Italian sandwich institution has finalized leases for new locations at One Madison Avenue and the Empire State Building. The expansion marks a strategic shift back toward traditional, standalone brick-and-mortar spaces for the brand, which has spent recent years anchoring high-traffic food halls.
“This is the first proper brick-and-mortar we have opened in a while,” said Jon Streep, Principal and CEO of Alidoro Restaurant Group. “We are also excited to be in an area where we have no stores close by.”
Expanding the Footprint
The brand’s immediate focus centers on a 1,000-square-foot storefront at One Madison Avenue, a redeveloped, premium office tower situated next to Madison Square Park. Slated for an early July opening, the space commands an asking rent of $251,000 annually. The 10-year lease agreement includes a five-year renewal option. Ripco’s Jon Paul Pirraglia, Dillon Ross, and Andrew Moger spearheaded the negotiations on behalf of Alidoro, working alongside landlord SL Green.
Shortly after the Madison Avenue debut, Alidoro will cut the ribbon on a matching 1,000-square-foot outpost within the iconic Empire State Building, scheduled to open mid-September.
Four Decades of Culinary Authority
The double-header expansion coincides with Alidoro’s 40th anniversary. Founded in SoHo in 1986, the brand has grown from a singular neighborhood gem into a multi-location powerhouse, currently operating six spots across the city – including a 2019 Rockefeller Center boutique. Over the decades, it has earned critical acclaim, notably landing a spot on The New York Times’ prestigious roster of “57 Sandwiches That Define NYC.”
The brand’s enduring appeal relies on a tight menu of 21 signature Italian sandwiches. Each build focuses on premium imported meats, artisanal cheeses, house-made spreads, and marinated vegetables piled onto freshly baked bread.
The Road Ahead
By the close of the year, Alidoro’s total New York City count will reach nine locations. The rapid growth signals a company capitalizing on post-pandemic corporate foot traffic and a booming corporate lunch sector.
Streep indicates that the brand is already eyeing its next moves, pointing directly at the Financial District as its next target market. The goal is to capture the intersection of dense daytime pedestrian traffic and lucrative corporate catering demands.
“We feel like we are at a real inflection point of our business,” Streep noted, “and we are ready to hit it.”
