Who just bought the Staten Island ferry?

Davidson and Jost, who both were born and raised on Staten Island, purchased the decommissioned ferry for $280,000 last year with plans to turn it into a comedy and entertainment venue.



The Staten Island Ferry (specifically the decommissioned vessel named the John F. Kennedy) was purchased in early 2022 by Pete Davidson and Colin Jost, both of whom are famous Saturday Night Live cast members and Staten Island natives. They partnered with Paul Italia, a comedy club owner, to buy the 277-foot ship at an NYC city auction for approximately $280,100. The group plans to transform the iconic ferry into a floating entertainment destination, featuring a comedy club, a bar, and various dining options. In 2026, the project is still a major topic of discussion, as Pete Davidson recently joked on television about the "millions" it is costing to maintain and renovate the massive vessel while it sits in a shipyard. The John F. Kennedy was one of the most beloved ships in the fleet, serving the route from 1965 until its retirement in 2021. The buyers intend for the ferry to stay permanently docked at a yet-to-be-finalized location in New York City, giving a "second life" to a local icon. While the renovation has faced the logistical challenges typical of a massive maritime project, the vision remains to turn the boat into a unique cultural hub that celebrates the heritage of Staten Island.

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Davidson and Jost, who both were born and raised on Staten Island, purchased the decommissioned ferry for $280,000 last year with plans to turn it into a comedy and entertainment venue.

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Jost and Davidson first purchased the decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat for $280,100 with plans to turn it into New York's hottest club.

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Saturday Night Live stars Davidson and Jost, along with comedy club owner Paul Italia, had plans to turn the ferry into New York City's next hottest club when they purchased the vessel. The ferry was auctioned off by New York City's Department of Citywide Administrative Services for $280,100.

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NYC DOT - Captain John Garvey, Deputy Commissioner for Ferries & Chief Operations Officer for the Staten Island Ferry.

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Davidson, Jost and comedy club owner Paul Italia purchased the ship for $280,100 through an online public auction just over a year and a half ago. According to the original listing, the John F. Kennedy was in poor condition and had to be decommissioned due to mechanical issues.

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Eliminating the ferry fare was seen as an action to standardize Staten Islanders' MetroCard fares with those of commuters in other boroughs. Despite the fact that the ferry fare had netted $6 million in annual revenue for the city, its abolition only cost the city about $1 million.

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Jost also poked fun at the situation, writing, We're excited to prove the non-believers wrong. You're going to be BEGGING to get on this ferry in two years. Mark my words. Jost and Davidson first purchased the decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat for $280,100 with plans to turn it into New York's hottest club.

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As of Sep 27, 2023, the average hourly pay for a Ferry Boat Captain in Staten Island is $25.94 an hour.

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There are many residents who actually live and work in Staten Island, so commuting isn't a problem. But if you need to commute off the island, the cost via transit can be significant.

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To put cars on the ferry would require a major security checkpoint, DeSimone said. It's not as simple as just driving down here, there's a whole bevy of regulations the Coast Guard would require. Vehicles haven't been allowed on the Staten Island Ferry since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

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