Long before the first case of COVID-19 was reported, Little Italy was iconic for the sidewalk cafes and restaurants dotting Mulberry Street, the destination's central thoroughfare. But now that indoor dining in New York City has been indefinitely suspended, its outdoor dining scene has been taken to a whole new level, with in-street dining taking space on newly-designated car-free streets. The arrangement allows restaurants to stay in business and diners to enjoy a safe night out.

In this new setting, foundation work is underway at 155 Mulberry Street, at the corner of Grand Street. Renderings of the new building show a seven-story structure with a red brick facade, large windows, and all the respect for its historic surroundings that one would expect from Morris Adjmi Architects.