Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
The Trump Tavern On The Green Will Never Be!
By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 29, 2012
Modified Mar 29, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 29, 2012
Modified Mar 29, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The latest round of bids to take over the faded splendor that was the Tavern on the Green are due to the city on Friday, but guess which publicity-loving real estate personality won't be submitting a bid on the money pit? Donald Trump. The city's plans for the Central park restaurant are just too pedestrian for The Donald.
"We only get involved with projects that are super high quality and luxury," Ron Lieberman, executive vice president of management and development at the Trump Organization, explained to DNAinfo. "For us to be involved we would want to turn it back to its glory and make it one of the greatest restaurants in the world. But the way the city has set it up makes it impossible to do that."
The news isn't really a surprise. After Trump randomly popped up last January saying he had a plan to save the restaurant he made it Crystal Room-clear that he'd only do it his way. And his way, as anyone whose ever been in one of his buildings, is big and brash and shiny. What NYC is looking for is something a little more casual to go in the retrofitted space.
Don't cry too much at the news, however. Lots of restaurateurs have sniffed around the space and the city hopes to pick a new developer by the end of the Spring. Now lets just hope the winning bidder can make things work with the union. Now if only Tishman Speyer would do something about that other gone-but-not-forgotten bit of beloved restaurant real estate, the Rainbow Room. Then things would really be looking up fans of dining with a view.
Tagged
central park
donald trump
parks department
tavern on the green
the donald
trump
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .