Changes Ahead for Dimes Square Restaurant

A well-known eatery in Manhattan’s Dimes Square has shut its doors this week due to over $1.3 million in unpaid taxes, according to records.

An eye-catching orange notice was affixed to Kiki’s door on Tuesday, indicating the state’s action for nonpayment. Interestingly, the Greek restaurant across the street seemed to stay open.

The popular Division Street spot, a haunt for celebrities like Timothée Chalamet, reportedly stopped settling its bills as of July 2024. Twelve tax warrants have been issued against LLC Chinatown Greek Food Services, which includes Kiki’s, totaling a staggering $1,064,793.25.

Additionally, the owners, Pavlos Cielos and Kiki Karamintzas, still owe around $317,290 in sales and personal income taxes.

However, a sign next to the foreclosure notice on Kiki’s door claimed that the restaurant remains “open for business across the street.”

Cielos was unavailable for comment, but staff indicated that Kiki’s is simply “open.” This news has disheartened many regulars who flock to the restaurant for its craft cocktails and vibrant outdoor seating. Kiki’s has become a staple in the trendy area between the Lower East Side and Chinatown, garnering attention for celebrity sightings.

Interestingly, it seems that Chalamet, a known Knicks supporter, considers this locale as the hub for “cool kids.”

This hotspot, which launched in 2015, doesn’t even have its own signage anymore, still relying on banners from its previous Chinese parent company.

Lines at Kiki’s can stretch beyond an hour, as eager patrons wait to indulge in the restaurant’s beloved Greek comfort food. Luckily, its sister restaurant, Forgtmenot, remains untouched by the financial troubles and is still serving customers in the same vicinity.