After 30 years in business, the Bryant Park Grill is set to close and be replaced by a new Jean-Georges Vongerichten venture. As first reported by Crain’s New York, the iconic 1,000-seat restaurant, which sits behind the New York Public Library and generates nearly $30 million in sales annually, will not have its lease renewed by the Bryant Park Corporation when it expires in May. Bryant Park officials said the restaurant had become “tired” and that it was time for a fresh start with a new operator.
Jean-Georges Vongerichten is a world-renowned French-American chef with several restaurants around the world, including more than a dozen in New York City.
Bryant Park Corporation Executive Director Dan Biederman informed members of Manhattan Community Board 5’s parks and public spaces committee about the change on Monday, according to Crain’s.
According to Biederman, Jean-Georges has “the best combination of operating record, financial strength, and creative talent in food and design.” A lease is expected to be signed in a couple of days and the contract would last for 18 years.
Jean-Georges is 25 percent owned by Seaport Entertainment Group, a public company that owns the South Street Seaport. The New York Times reported in October that Jean-Georges would likely be the winning bid.
Matt Partridge of the Seaport Entertainment Group told the community board on Monday the restaurant will undergo a $12 million renovation and be fully open by May 2026.
The Bryant Park Grill generates $28 million in annual sales and pays $3 million in rent, helping fund the park, which receives no city funding. The new restaurant could generate up to $40 million in sales, according to Biederman.
Roughly 250 employees are set to lose their jobs, but all of the workers will be “given an opportunity to interview” for a job at the new restaurant, Partridge said during Monday’s board meeting. However, that likely means a long wait for the hiring process.
After the grill closes, it will take approximately eight to 10 months for the new restaurant to undergo renovations and open for business.
The grill, which has been owned by 81-year-old Michael Weinstein since its creation, is experiencing “succession issues,” according to Biederman.
Weinstein urged community board members to “carefully scrutinize” the plan to replace the grill. The city’s Parks Department will ultimately need to approve Bryant Park Corporation’s plan to grant Jean-Georges the license to operate the business.
The restaurant is vowing to continue its fight to stay open and protect the jobs of its 250 employees.
“Dan Biederman is trying to kick out the one institution most responsible for transforming Bryant Park into what it is today. We have been steadfast members of this community for 30 years and offered to pay a higher rent than any of our competitors,” Weinstein said in an official statement.
“But Dan Biederman and his board are turning their back on the Park: the lease they’re considering with Jean-Georges would mean less funding for the park, higher menu prices for midtown diners, and 250 New Yorkers put out of a job. We’ll keep fighting to stop this disastrous proposal.”
Bryant Park Grill closing this spring, will be replaced by a Jean-Georges restaurant
January 28, 2025
Cover Photo Credit: John Wisniewski on Flickr