ZZ Pizza Closes at Staten Island Ferry Terminal as Concessions Turn Over

ZZ Pizza has closed at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in St. George, shrinking food options at a transit hub that handles thousands of riders each day. The operator said his lease had expired. He said he did not know what is planned for the space.

The closure removes one of the terminal's most visible food vendors. ZZ Pizza sold pies and slices, beer and wine, and, importantly for commuters, seating. It was one of the few places at the terminal where a rider could sit down and eat.

What replaces the vacant spaces?

NYCEDC, the terminal's landlord, said it has already received interest in the empty retail spaces, including the former ZZ Pizza location.

"We are actively working to fill the remaining vacant retail spaces at the terminal and have received interest from both national chains and local businesses, including prospective pizzeria operators for the former ZZ's Pizza space," a spokesperson said. "NYCEDC's goal is to provide a diverse mix of food and beverage options that meet the needs of ferry riders and the surrounding community."

That statement signals a leasing priority, not a signed tenant. Interest from prospective pizzeria operators does not guarantee a replacement in kind. The spokesperson did not name any candidate or give a timeline for a deal.

How many food options remain?

The ZZ Pizza departure follows two earlier closures at the terminal:

• Au Bon Pain opened its bakery-café on the St. George concourse in early 2010 and closed in February 2024 after 14 years. A new Dunkin' took the space and opened in February this year.
• Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, which opened in 2013 as New York City's first Dairy Queen, also permanently closed amid the terminal's concession turnover.

Current options include Ferris Wheel Yogurt Smoothie and Cafe, Subway, and River Dock Cafe, which offers a full bar and sit-down service with a menu ranging from seafood to burgers and wings. Dunkin' is the recent addition.

One SILive reader summarized the situation: "Besides River Dock Cafe and a smoothie shop, it's looking bleak there."

The reader's framing is only partly fair. The terminal has lost three sit-down or substantial food vendors in roughly two years while gaining one national coffee-and-sandwich chain. For a facility moving thousands of people daily, that math favors grab-and-go over seated dining unless the next leases change it.

Does the closure fit a larger plan?

The closings are also part of the normal ebb and flow of businesses at the terminal, where restaurants have long served tourists and commuters seeking a quick bite.

The broader Staten Island North Shore Action Plan calls for the St. George Ferry Terminal to play a bigger role in the waterfront's growth. The plan envisions more retail and dining options for commuters, residents and visitors.

The plan sets a direction, not a schedule. Its outcome depends on which operators sign leases and on what terms NYCEDC fills the remaining vacant spaces, including the former pizzeria. Until those leases close, the terminal's food mix rests largely on Dunkin', Subway, a smoothie shop and one full-service cafe with a bar.