New York City : Closings

Zoë, Etat-Unis Fold

BuzzEditor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:11:00 GMT

After 18 years in SoHo, Stephen and Thalia Loffredo are closing their restaurant Zoë at the end of the week.

In other closing news, the once-popular Etats-Unis and its branches are all closed.

Ureña Out

BuzzEditor — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:47:00 GMT

The Times reports, and a call confirms, that Alex Ureña is closing his Murray Hill tapas spot Pamplona after two years (before that it was a more upscale restaurant from the same team called Ureña). The space is now set to become a lounge, name to be determined, with much of the same kitchen and waitstaff in place; chef Ureña is headed on vacation with his family.

Closed: Chanterelle Bids Adieu

BuzzEditor — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:38:00 GMT

After closing this summer for renovations, it appears that Karen and David Waltuck's beloved Chanterelle will not be reopening after all. The restaurant, which opened in SoHo in 1979 and moved to TriBeCa 10 years later, was one of the first in this era to bring fine dining Downtown.

Closed: Café des Artistes, John Dory

BuzzEditor — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:13:00 GMT

This weekend saw two high-profile closings:

It's the end of an era: the Times reports that the 92-year-old Upper West Side classic Café des Artistes has closed its doors for good. Owners George and Jenifer Lang had shut down the restaurant for vacation earlier this month and decided it was better to not reopen. The future of the atmospheric space (and its historic murals) is up in the air, as is the restaurant's name – the building's owners hold the rights to it. For further reading, check out the 212/Blog, which has a personal piece from Jenifer Lang detailing reasons behind the decision.

Meanwhile, Eater broke the story on Saturday that John Dory, the Chelsea fin house from Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield, shut down after less than nine months. The duo expects to reopen, however, in a more accessible location. In the meantime, Dory employees are being shipped off to the Ace hotel, where Friedman and Bloomfield are opening the Breslin next month.

To Greener Pastures

BuzzEditor — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:15:00 GMT

Right on the heels of Planet Thailand's unexpected closing in Williamsburg, nearby health-food newcomer Green Canteen has already tossed in the towel after just a few months.

Planet Thailand Falls Into a Black Hole

BuzzEditor — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:22:00 GMT

Having lost its lease, Williamsburg's Planet Thailand closed on Sunday after 10 years on N. Seventh Street. The owners hope to reopen somewhere in Brooklyn before Christmas, and sister restaurant Planetthailand 212 in the Flatiron remains open.

Aja Leaves the Village

BuzzEditor — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:19:00 GMT

The Village outpost of Pan-Asian Aja at 432 Sixth Ave. has shut its doors. It will be replaced at the end of the month with a fourth branch of another Pan-Asian, Amber.

Home and Guest House Close, HRH Approaches

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:09:00 GMT

When we called Greenhouse to confirm that its 27th St. siblings Home and Guest House were closed (they are), we also got this tidbit: According to a rep the group is working on a new restaurant tentatively called HRH (His Royal Highness). Located on 21st St., across from where Lot 61 was, the newcomer is aiming to open in September for Fashion Week.

Bourbon Belly Up

BuzzEditor — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:38:00 GMT

Add Bourbon Street Southern Gourmet Pantry to the spate of closings along Hudson Street. As of this weekend, the New Orleans–themed restaurant and grocery has called it quits, and the space is up for rent. It joins Monster Sushi, Pizza Lucca, Mama Buddha, Hudson Corner Café and the soon-to-shutter Alfama in the real-estate massacre on the West Village strip.

– Kathleen Squires

Payard Put Out to Pasture

BuzzEditor — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:30:00 GMT

It’s official: Though it was mentioned as a possibility a few weeks ago, word has come in from Payard Bistro that the restaurant has closed after more than a decade on the Upper East Side. According to the release: “Unfortunately, [Payard] is forced to close his operation due to untenable rent increases being levied by his landlord. Alexandra Payard will continue to operate her catering business, Tastings, as usual and will employ some of the patisserie and bistro staff.”

La Vie Finit

BuzzEditor — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:16:00 GMT

La Belle Vie, the French brasserie at 184 Eighth Ave., which has had a “For Lease” sign posted above its awning for months now, is closed after a nine-year run, along with the connecting space around the corner at 263 W. 19th St. that held sibling Tello Ristorante. Tello moved to the Mare space at 198 Eighth Ave., with Mare now gone forever. Connected next door to the new Tello, Alonso’s Steakhouse is still going strong. Alonso Tello is the chef for all these restaurants.

Amalia Turns Bar, Tet Through

BuzzEditor — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:35:00 GMT

Amalia in Midtown has given up food and is now focusing on drink service. Similarly, Ammos in Astoria is now opening only for private events.

Meanwhile, in the East Village, Tet appears to have given up the ghost just past its first birthday – its telephone has been disconnected.

The Rainbow Room Fades Away

BuzzEditor — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:14:00 GMT

Put on your dancing shoes and throw on your raincoat, because tonight is the last night for dancing at the Rainbow Room – at least while it's in the hands of the Cipriani family. If dancing isn't your thing, though, you've still got a little while longer, as the Rainbow Grill wil continue to serve drinks and a light menu until Father's Day, June 21 (212-632-5100).

Garden Cafe Gives Up the Ghost

BuzzEditor — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:35:00 GMT

Garden Cafe, the No.1 rated Brooklyn restaurant in Zagat’s NYC Survey, closed last week after nearly 25 years in operation in Prospect Heights. The surprise closing was confirmed by the restaurant's neighbor, Amorina, who noted that prospective new tenants had already been seen visiting the space.

Secession Concedes Defeat

BuzzEditor — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:32:00 GMT

Just weeks after bringing in new chef Christian Delouvrier to help turn around his ailing Secession, David Bouley has pulled the plug on the project, the New York Times reports. Until the end of June the space at Hudson and Duane Streets will be used for private parties, after which it will be turned into Brushstrokes, Bouley's planned Japanese restaurant with Yoshiki Tsuji, which was originally intended to live down the block at 111 West Broadway.