NY's Tavern on the Green restaurant bites the dust

[proud2BlibKansan]

Tavern on the Green, once America's highest-grossing restaurant, is singing its culinary swan song.

The former sheepfold at the edge of Central Park, now ringed by twinkling lights and fake topiary animals, is preparing for New Year's Eve, when it will serve its last meal. Just three years ago, it was plating more than 700,000 meals annually, bringing in more than $38 million.

But that astronomical sum wasn't enough to keep the landmark restaurant out of bankruptcy court. Its $8 million debt is to be covered at an auction of Baccarat and Waterford chandeliers, Tiffany stained glass, a mural depicting Central Park and other over-the-top decor that has bewitched visitors for decades.

Even the restaurant's name is up for grabs. At stake is whether another restaurateur taking over the 27,000 square feet of space, owned by the city, can reopen as Tavern on the Green.

For 75 years, since it first opened amid the Great Depression, the Tavern has attracted clients from around the world.

http://www.kansascity.com/382/story/1656324.html

[xchrom]

1. Recommend -- now this is a crying shame. Nt

[sandnsea]

2. This is shocking

How could NYC let this happen?? Surely somebody has $8 million to bail them out.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Read the article

It sounds like it was political. The city gave the lease to someone else.

[sandnsea]

13. It's your OP, post the appropriate parts n/t

[ixion]

4. it brought in 38 million and it's bankrupt?

sounds like it was poorly managed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Read the article

:)

[phasma ex machina]

6. RIP

[LisaM]

7. Ahhh....this sucks

Really, the city needs to take a look at itself here. Doesn't anyone apprciate experiences that can be handed down through the generations anymore?

I won't be able to take my nieces and nephews to ANYTHING I did as a kid (that does not include Tavern on the Green, unfortunately, but it's the same anywhere). Landlords are charging rapacious rents and everything's turning into a chain, because those are the only people who can pay them.

[Gwendolyn]

8. All good things must eventually come to an end...

The food was not amazing and the place was dripping in tourists... but it had lots of over the top, wheeeeee kind of drama that was fun and the grounds were beautiful. Farewell to a NYC icon, that's for sure.

[Fire1]

9. Yep. They were out bid. Unionized workers, too. I'm sure

that's the end of that, as well.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Correct on both

It's a very sad story about greed.

[Fire1]

11. Sadly, this is the direction in which this country has been

heading for the last thirty years. It's just picking up speed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Screw the workers

Yes, sad indeed.

[Fumesucker]

12. The money quote..

The LeRoys, employing more than 400 unionized workers with full benefits, couldn't match that. As the recession hit, they accrued more than 450 creditors.

[FarCenter]

15. It will reopen under new management with a new lease from the City

The food was unremarkable. Tourist trap.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Extensively remodeled

Not the same place.

[1]

17. i never ate there. was it a great dining experience? i have to ask, y'all from ny go on and on...

my only experience of tavern on the green is probably from nora ephron movies.

was it that great?

[RB TexLa]

18. It didn't suck.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. I've never been there but wanted to go

I don't care if it is a tourist trap. I have always wanted to see it. The pictures are so beautiful.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

20. The food and ambiance was wonderful.