A fashionable New York City restaurant has been abruptly shut down after authorities alleged the celebrity favorite owed more than $1.2 million in unpaid taxes.
Kiki’s, the well-known Greek spot on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, closed without warning on Tuesday after the state seized the business over the large tax debt, according to public records.
The restaurant, owned by Pavlos Sierros, was marked with a bright orange seizure notice from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance after officials issued 12 tax warrants.
Records show Kiki’s, which operates through Chinatown Greek Food Services LLC, owes $607,835 tied to six tax warrants filed between May 2025 and April 2026.
Sierros, as the owner of the LLC, also owes $603,861 through six additional tax warrants spanning September 2025 to April 2026, according to records. He confirmed the restaurant’s seizure to Bloomberg.
Separately, records show Sierros personally faces $183,674 in outstanding obligations across four personal income tax warrants.
The $1.2 million outstanding debt ultimately shuttered the restaurant, which opened in 2015 in Dimes Square.
It will come as a blow to many, including the likes of celebrities such as Timothée Chalamet and others who were known to frequent the eatery.
Kiki’s, a popular Greek restaurant on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, suddenly closed its doors on Tuesday after it was seized by the state over a hefty tax bill totaling $1.2 million
The restaurant, owned by Pavlos Sierros, was plastered with an orange seizure sign from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance after being served 12 tax warrants
Kiki’s maintained a reputation of good prices and celebrity sightings and even appeared on Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop recommendation site
Customers are now met with a sign directing them to sister Kiki’s sister restaurant Forgtmenot which is still up an running.
‘Kiki’s is open across the street,’ a piece of paper taped underneath the bright orange seizure signage read.
‘We’ll “Seized” you later,’ was also seen scrawled over the top of the seizure notice.
Kiki’s maintained a reputation of good prices and celebrity sightings and even appeared on Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop recommendation site.
Jason Osiason, a 33-year-old longtime fan of the restaurant, told Bloomberg: ‘It hurts how good the atmosphere and the food actually are.
‘There’s an endless wait time that could outlast most NYC relationships, and they’re pouring me glasses of house wine in the chalices that are suspiciously cheaper than every other spot in this neighborhood,’ he added.
Creative Director and Fashion Designer Musa, who worked with the likes of Jaden Smith, videoed a scene of fans gathered outside of the shuttered restaurant.
KiKi’s offers affordably priced Greek food including dishes such as grilled octopus, taramosalata, branzino and moussaka.
‘Kiki’s is open across the street,’ a piece of paper taped underneath the bright orange seizure signage read. ‘We’ll “Seized” you later,’ was also seen scrawled over the top of the seizure notice
Across the way, Kiki’s sister restaurant Forgtmenot, where customers of the popular Greek restaurant have been directed to, is still up and running despite the seizure
The restaurant doesn’t have its own signage and uses that of a Chinese printing company which used the building before the owners set up shop.
The Daily Mail reached out to Sierros, Chinatown Greek Food Services LLC and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for comment.
