AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: Panini’s Closure
Ryan Forman: That’s right. After 25 years in business, paninis in downtown Syracuse will close its doors permanently at the end of the week. Long time customer, Ryan Stanton, talked to me about his thoughts on the void that paninis will leave.
Ryan Stanton: My friends over here have been here for over about 20 years, coming here religiously. I’ve been here for about five to six years, and it’s been an outstanding restaurant. I mean, I hope the economy starts to pick up here within the next couple years, because small time owners like this fine gentleman, Steve, that’s the owner of the restaurant really suffered between covid and the economy dropping.
Ryan Forman: Owner, Steve bianco, could not be met for comment. If you want to get one more sandwich before paninis closes, the last day of service is on Friday, from 8am to 3pm Ryan Forman, NCC, news.
Syracuse N.Y. (NCC News)– A downtown Syracuse institution closed April 10 after 25 years of operation. Panini’s, located at 222 Harrison St., wrapped up its final day of service that day.
The sandwich shop had served customers for about 25 years.
Panini’s was founded in 1999 by the Yost family near Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse. The business was sold 11 years later to Steve and Joanne Bianco and had operated under their ownership for more than a decade.
On April 1, the store released this statement on Facebook:
“After many unforgettable meals, conversations and shared moments, we will be closing our doors. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”
Business had declined over the past five years for the Biancos. After the business survived the COVID-19 pandemic, construction for the INSPYRE Innovation Hub in 2023 caused lane closures on Harrison Street and other downtown roads. The construction made parking and access to Panini’s more difficult for customers.
Even Panini’s neighbor, Ale ’n’ Angus, temporarily shut down so INSPYRE could complete work on the building. INSPYRE is investing more than $10 million to convert the upper floors of the pub into apartments, further limiting access to businesses on the street.
Regular customers said what happened to Panini’s reflects a larger decline affecting small businesses.
“I hope the economy starts to pick up here within the next couple years,” longtime customer Ryan Stanton said, “because small-time owners really suffered between COVID and the economy dropping.”
When reached for comment, Steve Bianco was unavailable for an interview.
After the announcement on April 1, many customers, including Stanton, visited the restauran