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Rocco's Curse? Or Is it Just the Space?
By
Laren Spirer
Published Jul 29, 2008
Modified Jul 29, 2008
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By
Laren Spirer
Published Jul 29, 2008
Modified Jul 29, 2008
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The Insatiable Critic brings concrete news of Borough Food and Drink's imminent demise. According to Eric Lemonides and Jason Weiner, both of "much loved" Almond and Almoncello in the Hamptons, the space will transform into "an American bistro, 'totally affordable, with strong French roots.'"
In just a few years, the space at 12 East 22nd Street has had quite a few tenants, and even their collective pedigrees haven't been enough to save them. Most recently, Fatty Crab's Zak Pelaccio and his partner Rick Camac took over management duties from Jeffrey Chodorow, but clearly they didn't fare much better than the Chod himself. Before that, it was Caviar and Banana, which was an attempt to revive the space after the Rocco's debacle that became fodder for reality television.
So why is it that one of the country's most successful restaurateurs can't seem to keep a restaurant going in that location? Could it be that it is one of the legendary "cursed" spaces, like the one that currently houses the Denton brothers' Bar Milano? Only time will tell, but three restaurants in under five years doesn't show great promise for success.
Tagged
Borough Food and Drink
Eric Lemonides
jason weiner
jeffrey chodorow
restaurants
rocco dispirito
zak pelaccio
Laren Spirer
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