The Times noted yesterday that the popular Chelsea Jamaican joint Maroons is closing its doors on January 31st. Gone as well are dreams of opening a Harlem outpost (in the works since 2005). Meanwhile, the owners are looking to relocate to a new space in the future and plan to market a line of gourmet sauces.
The closing of Maroons also points to what could be the trend of the year: expired leases. Part of the reason for Maroons shuttering, we hear, is that its 10-year lease has come to a close. In the same vein, the recently closed Upper West Side Ruby Foo's was at the end of its decade-long lease. Sadly, we expect this trend to continue as the year rolls on.