NYC lost some beloved bars and restaurants in 2015, most often due to rising rents. The losses were in all price ranges, from inexpensive dive bars and diners to spots favored by the power lunch and expense acount crowd.
RIP and raise a toast to these NYC eating and drinking establishments, now part of the growing category of Vanishing New York:
Four Seasons Restaurant, home of the iconic Pool Room and thousands of corporate business meetings, closed its doors in the landmarked Seagrams Building on Park Avenue. Plans are for a new restaurant to open in the space, if they can find one able to pay the steep rent and $30-ish million in renovation costs. Four Seasons owners are looking for a new location.
Market Diner, one of the last real and true diners in NYC, shut its doors on a gritty strip on Eleventh Avenue in Hells Kitchen after 50 years.
Hogs and Heifers, (pictured above) one of the last of its breed of real and true NYC dive bars, poured its last drink in the ever-gentrifying Meatpacking District. Now that the Whitney Museum grew up a few blocks away, the landlord was emboldened to raise the rent from $3,000 in 1992 to an astounding $60,000 a month under a new lease, which cannot be supported by $3 beers and a lack of parking for the devoted biker crowd. I was there on the last day last summer, and it was bittersweet party. There are other Hogs and Heifers locations, including in downtown Las Vegas, but nothing matches the original.
Ouest, the popular UWS eatery which served French and American menu choices, closed in June after 14 years. Word is that a Jacob’s Pickles outpost will open in the spot in Spring 2016.
City Hall Restaurant in Tribeca is yet another victim of greedy landlords, a lack of caps on commercial rent increases, and rising labor costs.
NYC also said farewell to favorite stores and movie theaters closed forever in 2015, including FAO Schwarz.
More NYC bars gone in 2015 in this article in AM New York
What’s your favorite restaurant or bar that closed in 2015? Add a comment, or email us at info@nyconthecheap.com
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