Bryant Park Grill Owner Sues Landlord In Fight To Stay Open

BRYANT PARK, NY — The owner of the Bryant Park Grill — which is set to close in April after more than 30 years — has sued its landlord in an effort to keep the restaurant open.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in New York state court, accuses the Bryant Park Corporation — the nonprofit that runs Bryant Park — of holding a "sham bidding process" that skewed the decision process toward a restaurant by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, which plans to take over the Grill's place.

The suit argues that the Bryant Park Corporation ignored certain contractual agreements made with the Grill and did not sufficiently publicize its Request for Proposals, as required by law.

“This is a public concession in a public park owned by the people of New York. Bryant Park is not private property to do as you wish. You have to follow the law,” Michael Weinstein, the owner of the Bryant Park Grill, said.

The restaurateur also argued that the Bryant Park Corporation rejected the Grill's competitive bid, which was $1 million higher in annual rent than the Jean-Georges restaurant, and is handing over to a company with a "recent record of failure."

In late January, Dan Biederman, president of the Bryant Park Corporation, told Community Board 5 that Jean-Georges fairly beat 10 other restaurant applications for the spot, including the Byrant Park Grill itself.

"They present the best combination of operating record, financial strength, and creative talent in the food and design field," Biederman said of the Jean-Georges management company, Seaport Entertainment Group, in January.

Biederman and the Bryant Park Corporation declined a request for comment on the lawsuit and said that attorneys will address all allegations in court.

See the lawsuit here.

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