The 9/11 Tribute Museum on Greenwich Street is closing its doors, less than a month before the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Retired FDNY firefighter Lee Ielpi, who cofounded the museum, told WCBS 2 that it feels like a ounch to the gut.
Ielpi's son, Jonathan, was one of the 343 FDNY members killed on 9/11.
Jonathan's helmet and turnout coat are on display at the museum.
Ielpi told WCBS 2 that "We've seen over 5 million people from around the world," since the museum opened, but the pandemic and dramatic drop in tourism to the city has made it impossible to stay open.
Despite pleas for funding earlier this year, they didn't get the money needed, so all artifacts at the museum will either go back to those who donated them or the state museum in Albany.
The much larger 9/11 Memorial and Museum will remain open, but Ielpi says it doesn't have the personal touch that his museum had.
