New Market Fiolino Opens in Former Terry’s Space

Fiolino, a high-end gourmet market, opened to the public for the first time this past July. Located on the same block as Stuyvesant at 41 River Terrace in Battery Park City, Fiolino is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Prior to the opening of Fiolino, the space had been occupied by Terry’s Deli since 1999, which served the Stuyvesant community for over 25 years. Known for its various menu items, from a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich to its famous pizza bagel, Terry’s was a staple for Stuyvesant students looking to get lunch nearby. “I think what made Terry’s memorable to Stuy students was the easy access that we had to the shop because of our close proximity,” junior Tenzin Chosang said in an email interview. “Terry’s menu was also pretty diverse and could cater to different taste palates.” Unfortunately, due to a lease expiration and related revenue struggles, Terry’s closed on February 21, 2025, to the dismay of many in the Stuyvesant community and the broader neighborhood.

Construction of Fiolino began shortly after, and lasted nearly a year and a half until its opening. Keith, manager of Fiolino and Battery Park City Gourmet Market (also called “Ferry’s,” a portmanteau of “Fake Terry’s”), described his mission and the origin of the market’s name. “The name comes from Italian: ‘fiore’ means flower, and the ending ‘-ino’ means little. So Fiolino is our way of saying ‘little flower,’” Keith said in an email interview. “When I started this project, I dreamed of a shop where everything came in small sizes: small sandwiches, small drinks, small snacks [...] The spirit of the name stayed with us: a small place, made with care.”

Fiolino features various grab-and-go meals—including sandwiches, salads, and drinks—and a refrigerator with sparkling and still water, soda, and iced tea ranging from $2.99 to $4.75. Sandwiches cost between $13.00 and $16.00, and salads are between $13.00 and $18.00. In contrast to Terry’s, which mainly operated as a spot for people to quickly get lunch or a snack, Fiolino expands the selection of items, offering more ingredients tailored for local residents to purchase and use at home. Notably, Fiolino offers unique pantry products on its shelves, such as olive jars, exotic sauces, soup cans, pancake mix, trout fish, maple syrup, and brioche that range from $5.00 to $18.99. There are even different varieties of hand soap, such as Spicy Honey for $42.00 or Heirloom Tomato for $46.00. 

Because Stuyvesant is located on the same block as Fiolino, Keith expressed interest in hearing students’ preferences about the menu options. “I’m always asking customers what they want, and I’d love to do the same with students,” Keith said. “Very soon, I’ll put up a QR code survey so you can tell me directly what you’d like to see at Fiolino. Students’ ideas will genuinely shape what we carry […] I’m always open to working with the Student Union. As we build out our menu, I’d love to hear their ideas and find ways to make Fiolino easier for students to enjoy.”

Some Stuyvesant students are drawn to the market due to the ambience of the store. “I have never tried it yet, but I’m actually very interested in going in to see what’s on their menu,” Chosang said. “Now that the new store has opened, I think the interior is very pleasant to look at and I feel compelled to go inside.” Although the inside of Fiolino is relatively small, its prominent turquoise shelves and bright white lights create a lively atmosphere for customers.

As more students visit Fiolino, Keith is aware of some potential issues with the cost of its products. “It makes me happy every time! Students usually order coffee or matcha drinks along with a snack,” Keith said. “I know our prices aren’t always easy on a student budget, since we use high-quality ingredients. That’s why I’m working on adding more fun, healthy drinks and grab-and-go breakfast and lunch options that are friendlier for students.” 

Beyond its ambience and menu, students brought up the differences between Fiolino and Terry’s. “I’ve walked in there once, and frankly, it was very empty compared to its predecessor,” sophomore Jiayu Chen said in an email interview. “I think it’s extremely different from what Terry’s offered, considering that it’s a lot more expensive and the bright lighting makes the atmosphere drastically different.” Having visited Terry’s before while in middle school, Chen contrasted Terry’s dimly lit, warm atmosphere to Fiolino’s current interior. 

Senior Lisa Burdi had a similar perspective about Fiolino’s design. “For Stuyvesant students, Terry’s was a convenience store in the most literal sense: a nearby spot to get what you needed quickly and cheaply. Fiolino has abandoned that business model, instead opting to blend into the aesthetic of the surrounding storefronts,” Burdi said in an email interview. “Everything is bright, carefully arranged, and polished, with prices reflecting Tribeca’s wealthy image. But it is not a store designed to serve the everyday needs of our community.” 

All the same, Keith understands Stuyvesant’s attachment to Terry’s and emphasizes that his objective is not to replace Terry’s, but to create a market for everyone’s benefit. “Even though I never visited Terry’s, I’ve heard again and again how much it meant to students and neighbors as a friendly, familiar place they could count on. That’s the part I most want to carry on,” Keith said. “Nobody can replace Terry’s, and I’m not trying to. Instead, I hope to earn our own place in the community over time, by listening and by giving students and neighbors what they really need.”

As Fiolino continues to establish itself in the community, Keith hopes to collaborate with Stuyvesant students to further develop the store and better suit their needs. “When this space was offered to me, the direction from ownership was to create something meaningful for the building’s residents, so we started with specialty coffee and carefully chosen products,” Keith said. “Now I really want to hear from students about what Fiolino can do for you and your school. I don’t expect to win anyone over overnight, but if we keep talking with each other, I believe we’ll find the right place for Fiolino in students’ lives.”