MIDTOWN — The historic Carnegie Deli was shut down after investigators found signs of an illegal gas hookup in the Seventh Avenue deli's basement, officials said.
A crew of ConEd investigators found a diverted gas line at the pastrami palace on Wednesday, ConEd spokesman Allan Drury said.
After crews dug up the sidewalk outside the deli and replaced piping, the building still failed gas tests, and inspectors found the illegal hookup, Drury said.
The deli's owner wrote ConEd a check for $40,050 on the spot to cover the stolen gas, Drury said.
The Department of Buildings also inspected the deli as part of a joint investigation with the Department of Investigation and ConEdison, the department said. The inspection comes after an East Village explosion killed two people in a building with an illegal gas line.
The Daily News first reported the closure.
“We are temporarily closed due to repairs,” the deli’s voicemail said Tuesday morning.
Tourists had arrived to line up for the deli's famous high-stacked sandwiches as early as 11 a.m. Tuesday. Antonio Gutierriez, 51, of Mexico City, came to the Carnegie three years ago and was back for more corned beef and pastrami.
"It's good, and it's too much," he said.
But his partner Aldra Chaos, 45, was a bit relieved. "I like small portions," she said.
Next door, Bill Kokkossis of the Premier Deli hung a sign in his window that read, "Special Today!!! Pastrami & Corned Beef, $14.95."
He said his pastrami and corned beef on rye with pickles and coleslaw was on par with Carnegie's famous version.
"Even when they're open, we get a lot of people from there," he said.
Carnegie's owners did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
