‘SNL’ Stars Colin Jost & Pete Davidson Buy Old Staten Island Ferry To Turn Into Concert Venue

Saturday Night Live comedians, Colin Jost and Pete Davidson, have become co-owners of a $280,000 decommissioned Staten Island ferry boat with the intention to turn it into a live entertainment venue.

The SNL stars, both Stated Island natives, have partnered up with The Stand comedy club owner, Paul Italia, in winning the ferry, named John F. Kennedy, during an auction last Tuesday by the New York City’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Italia told the New York Post that Jost and Davidson had “grand plans” for the ship, but it will take some time and great expenses. “The idea is to turn the space into a live entertainment event space, with comedy, music, art, et cetera,” Italia said. “We’re in the early stages, but everybody involved had the same ambition — not to see this thing go to the scrapyard.”

The ferry will stay in a local shipyard while the search continues for a permanent residence.

The ship was first commissioned in 1965 and was the oldest boat in the Staten Island Ferry’s working fleet, prior to its retirement last summer due to mechanical issues. While still operating, the 300-foot-long vessel had the capacity of 3,000 passengers and shuttled commuters between the Manhattan and Staten Island boroughs. The two sketch-stars improvement of the boat will help give recognition to a classic New York City icon.

Davidson has always kept in touch with his Staten Island roots, from his 2019 feature film The King of Staten Island to taking his current girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, on many dates to his home. Jost and his wife, Scarlett Johansson, continue living in the borough of Manhattan.