STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After 12 years serving the Staten Island community, J’s on the Bay will close its doors next month, owner and chef Joe Salimeni announced in an emotional message shared with customers and supporters on social media.
The Bay Street restaurant in Rosebank, which evolved from a casual daytime spot into a full-service dining destination, is scheduled to close on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.
Salimeni said the decision was not driven by failure or a loss of passion, but by the growing difficulty of continuing to operate a business he could no longer fully devote himself to.
A portrait of the late Anthony Bourdain hangs inside J’s on the Bay, a tribute to the influential chef and to the grit and passion that define the restaurant world.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)A difficult decision, not a loss of passion
”I opened a restaurant in Brooklyn, Terina, a year ago, achieving a five‑star rating on Google — one of the hardest reservations to get — and not giving it my all because I’m distracted,” Salimeni said. “I can’t keep living in two headspaces.”
While he acknowledged that operating a restaurant on Staten Island has become more challenging in recent years, Salimeni emphasized that outside conditions were only a small part of the decision.
“I started the place with nothing but $10,000 and a vision,” Salimeni told the Advance/SILive.com. “It wasn’t until COVID that everything really came crumbling down for the area.”
“Has business gotten more difficult in Rosebank and Staten Island in general? Yes — but that’s maybe 10% of why I’m closing,” he added. “I’m operating this restaurant out of passion now, not as a business anymore, and that’s ultimately what made it unsustainable.”
Like many New York City restaurant owners, Salimeni cited sharply rising costs across the board, particularly labor, utilities and insurance.
“At the top of the list is overhead — minimum wage, labor, utilities,” he said. “In just the past year, our utility costs alone went up about 25%. Between Con Edison and National Grid, that’s an extra $1,500 to $3,000 a month.”
Insurance became another major strain after he was dropped by a longtime provider.
“After nearly 12 years with the same insurance company, I was dropped with no explanation,” Salimeni said. “My new policy costs 25% more than what I was paying.”
Chef and owner Joe Salimeni is shown inside J’s on the Bay in Rosebank when he first opened 12 years ago. The chef has announced the impending closure of the restaurant.Staff-ShotLoving his neighborhood
Salimeni owns the building that houses the restaurant, a distinction that has helped him weather economic hardships over the past decade.
“There are two businesses there: the restaurant and the property,” he said. “Because I’m also the landlord, I’m going to be selective about who comes in. I want a respectable, community‑focused business — no smoke shops, no gun shops. There’s enough of those. The space was built to be a restaurant, and that’s what I want it to remain.”
In a broader discussion about the challenges facing local businesses, Salimeni expressed frustration with what he described as prolonged government inaction that has left nearby businesses bearing the consequences.
He pointed to a lengthy NYPD narcotics investigation involving an alleged drug distribution operation in Stapleton, saying the drawn‑out timeline took a toll on the surrounding neighborhood and local establishments.
The case involves Staten Island caterer Ettore Mazzei, who has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges. One alleged supplier in the case, Kadeem Lewis, of New Jersey, pleaded recently to a felony drug charge under a plea agreement. Mazzei remains held on Rikers Island as his case proceeds.
Salimeni said the prolonged investigation occurred during a period that saw the loss of nearby businesses, including two acclaimed restaurants.
“While cases were being built, friends of mine lost their businesses and hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he said. “Businesses closed, families lost livelihoods — and only after that did everyone want to have meetings.”
Despite the closure, Salimeni emphasized that the decision was rooted in business realities — not a loss of love for the industry that has defined most of his adult life.
“While the culinary arts and hospitality are near and dear to my heart and soul, this is purely a business decision,” he wrote on social media.
Throughout its run, J’s on the Bay remained a deeply personal project, Salimeni said. The dining room prominently featured a portrait of the late Anthony Bourdain, a lasting symbol of the restaurant’s spirit and creative influence.
Shown is a flashback image of the Bay Street Luncheonette, which served customers at the site until the building was purchased by Joe Salimeni and J’s on the Bay opened. From the left are Gene Lynch, Donald Patti and waitress Christina Stasolla, pouring coffee.staten island advanceLooking ahead
In his announcement, Salimeni thanked customers, staff and supporters for more than a decade of memories.
“Each and every one of you have touched me in your own ways for the last 12 years,” he wrote. “These moments and memories will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
He also paid tribute to past and present staff members, calling their dedication essential to the restaurant’s longevity.
“The past 12 years would never have been a reality without you,” he wrote. “My door is always open to you.”
While J’s on the Bay will soon close, Salimeni made clear that his culinary journey is far from over. He encouraged supporters to continue following his work at @chef_joesalimeni and announced plans to launch a full‑service catering and event company.
“This is not a goodbye,” he wrote. “Stay tuned.”
Owner and chef Joe Salimeni is shown in a photo taken in fall 2025. he expressed his love for Rosebank and gratitude to the supporters, employees and regulars who helped build the restaurant. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Dining and Cooking