A New York hospitality mogul is bringing in famed Waverly Inn chef John DeLucie to assist a 150-year-old tavern close to the South Avenue Seaport regain its luster, Facet Dish has realized.
Eytan Sugarman — whose restaurant empire contains White Horse Tavern, Hunt & Fish Membership and the Made In New York Pizza chain — has quietly purchased and reopened the Paris Cafe as he continues to double down on New York Metropolis’s restoration from the pandemic.
Opened in 1873, the Paris Cafe as soon as noticed the likes of Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Edison and Annie Oakley stomach as much as the hand-carved wood bar.
In later years, Bob Dylan and Lauren Bacall had been seen amongst its loyal patrons.
The three,900-square-foot, 75-seat pub nonetheless options the unique bar and mirror, together with wood-and leather-banquetes within the eating room.
“It’s like a diamond that has been buried underneath the earth,” Sugarman instructed Facet Dish.
“Sure, it’s not so fairly. However we’re going to polish it up and put in a brand new meals and beverage program whereas retaining the neighborhood tradition.”
Sugarman mentioned he plans on retaining the historic integrity of the spot, at 119 South Avenue close to the outdated Fulton Fish Market, however the pub will add a “French-inspired” menu created by DeLucie – the chef who used to serve $55 mac and cheese to the Waverly Inn’s A-listers and now runs the West Village jewel Ambra Italia Trattoria.
“You know the way I like outdated New York issues, and that is actually a gem,” DeLucie instructed Facet Dish.
The tavern survived a flood during Hurricane Sandy however finally shut down throughout the pandemic. T
hat’s when the owner first talked about the house to Sugarman.
It reopened final November and Sugarman introduced in DeLucie to revamp the menu after not too long ago shopping for a majority stake in Ambra.
DeLucie can be identified for revamping one other traditional, the Empire Diner in West Chelsea, which has been round since 1976.
He mentioned he’s excited to return to a different “rising” neighborhood.
Paris Cafe joined Sugarman’s new Hudson Avenue Hospitality firm, which incorporates nightlife veterans Matt Shendell as COO, Richie Romero as chief branding officer and Shaun Rose as chief advertising officer.
The group additionally owns the White Horse Tavern, at 567 Hudson St. within the West Village.
Opened in 1880, the landmarked pub was a well-known hangout for Dylan Thomas, Bob Dylan, James Baldwin, Norman Mailer and Hunter S. Thompson.
Sugarman calls each nineteenth century spots “legacy manufacturers.”
“There are solely a handful of them left. Progress has its casualties. I’d like to be referred to as the man who champions them,” mentioned Sugarman, whose Instagram deal with is “boyfromnewyorkcity.’
The White Horse is positioned subsequent door to Ambra, which DeLucie opened with restaurateur Andrea Ienna final September, and rapidly attracted a celeb clientele that features Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Justin Timberlake and Chris Meloni.
Sugarman hopes to lure the identical star energy right down to the Seaport, which has been within the midst of a change with the additions of Casa Cipriani and Jean Georges Vongerichten’s Tin Constructing in recent times.
“I imagine this space will probably be thriving within the subsequent 5 years,” Sugarman mentioned. “It is going to be much like areas like Hell’s Kitchen and the Meatpacking District.”
Whereas Sugarman, who received his begin as a nightclub proprietor, says New York continues to be in a post-pandemic restoration stage, he says he’s right here for the long run.
“New York continues to be New York. I believe that finally we have now one of the best and most numerous nightlife and hospitality on the earth. Whereas that is arguably not New York Metropolis’s finest second, it’s nonetheless the best metropolis on the earth, and can get again to the place it was. I’m persevering with to speculate right here,” Sugarman mentioned. “I’m an entire believer in New York.”
Together with the landmarked legacy spots, Sugarman may even be launching The Hudson Membership, an upscale restaurant and cocktail bar on W. fifty fifth St. that may have an identical vibe to his different midtown eatery, the Hunt & Fish Membership.
The Hudson Membership is in a 2800 square-foot house that was previously occupied by Black Faucet Burger, throughout from upscale Estiatorio Milos Midtown on W. fifty fifth St.
It’s slated to open by the top of June.
“We’re making a high-end cocktail lounge and fine-dining restaurant with the texture of a members membership however open to everybody,” Sugarman mentioned.
