Update, August 22, 2019: Di Fara Pizza was reopened for business Thursday afternoon. Speaking to NY1, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the shop reached an agreement with the state to get things back up and running.

 

An iconic Brooklyn pizzeria, popular with residents and tourists, was shut down Tuesday over a lot of dough.

The state's Taxation and Finance Department said it seized Di Fara Pizza in Midwood because it owes $167,506.75 in taxes, going back to 2014.

"I'm leaving, I'm trying to make pizza here, you know what I mean?" pizza-maker Dino Della said. "My hands were up. They're like, 'We're serving you papers, you got to get the hell out!'"

An employee told NY1 that agents from the department came to the restaurant with a police escort around 12:30 p.m. and said the shop was being shut down.

The owner's daughter, who now runs the pizzeria, told us they agreed with the state on a payment plan and haven't missed a payment since May. She says she feels they are being targeted because of their fame.

"What happened today was unnecessary, unprofessional, maybe a way to get in the spotlight, which I certainly don't want to do, I'm in the spotlight enough," said Margaret Mieles. "But the amount that they're telling us isn't the problem. They just received a payment."

Di Fara has another location in Williamsburg that is still open.

The Taxation and Finance Department tells us seizing a business is a last resort, and that it continues talks with the owners afterward to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Di Fara's Midwood location has been a staple at the corner of Avenue J and East 15th Street for more than 50 years.