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Nobody Good Really Wants To Run The Tavern On The Green
By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 30, 2012
Modified Mar 30, 2012
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 30, 2012
Modified Mar 30, 2012
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It isn't just The Donald, nobody seems to be interested in running the Tavern on the Green. At least not the way the city, in its infinite wisdom, wants it run. Bids to take over the storied space are due today, but a story in the Times makes clear that many people are just not into putting their hats in the ring. "The city seemed to have an intention to strip away whatever Tavern on the Green once represented," explained one non-bidder to the paper. "So we decided not to do it."
Right now the only people who are definitely making plays for the greatly reduced space, which is costing the city millions to not operate, are "Legends Hospitality Management, which runs the Legends Club and suite-and-seat catering at Yankee Stadium; and Beau Monde, a bustling French-accented bistro in Philadelphia that specializes in savory and sweet crepes."
As for who isn't bidding? That is a much longer list that includes, to name a few, Nobu's Drew Nieporent, the owner of the 21 Club, the Glazier Group, Bill Telepan, the Torrisi guys and, of course, Donald Trump. The main issue seems to be the with the city's image of a modern Tavern. That is much smaller thanks to the destruction of the Crystal Room, lacking those famous lit up trees, and without an easy place to run big catered events (no tents allowed on the terrace). Also, its hours will be cut back to match Central Park and amplified music has to end at 10 p.m.
So, yes. Someday we will have a Tavern on the Green again, but it won't be the strange, beloved and hated tourist trap the LeRoy family ran. It'll just be a tourist trap. And so it goes.
Tagged
central park
manhattan
parks department
tavern on the green
Garth Johnston
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