The show must go on.
A Broadway power couple has bought the long-suffering Hell's Kitchen Westbank Cafe, saving the quirky but infamous underground theater where Joan Rivers played her final show from closure.
Producers Tom and Michael D'Angola now own the cafe and its performance space, the Laurie Beechman Theater, which over the years has been home to the likes of Stephen Soundheim, Al Pacino and Tennessee Williams. I'm visiting.
“This has meant a lot to us for a long time,” Tony nominee Tom D'angora told The Post on Monday.
The couple, who live across the street from the cafe, will take over from owner Steve Olsen, 70, who opened the cafe in 1978. A temporary closure is planned for minor renovations.
Michael D'angora, producer of “How to Dance in Ohio” and the 2024 revival of “Cabaret,” called the new effort “crazy” and said the purchase would support Olsen and his business. He added that it was started as part of the initiative. It's part of the local and theater community.
“This wasn’t on our bingo card,” he said. “It’s really crazy that this new chapter is upon us.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The cafe has weathered a series of financial difficulties, the latest hurdle being its planned summer closure, which was managed to be staved off by fundraising efforts from Broadway stars.
D'Angoras previously held a fundraiser after the cafe turned to GoFundMe due to a lack of coronavirus relief funds in 2020, where fans raised $350,000 to keep the lights on.
Olsen co-led a GoFundMe with actor Joe Iconis that raised more than $124,000 to save the restaurant in June after the cash-strapped restaurant announced it would have to close by August. I stood there.
The D'Angoras then jumped on board to create a sustainable business plan with Olsen and related companies, owners and operators of Manhattan Plaza.
The couple said that after careful consideration, Olsen has chosen to step down and entrust the future of the organization to the D'Angolas.
“We are forever grateful for the support we have received from Hell's Kitchen, the theater community, and beyond throughout our 46-plus glorious years on Theater Row,” said Steve Olsen, who has owned the spot since he was 24 years old. “I'm doing it,” he said.
The restaurant will be closed starting Dec. 15 and plans to have a grand opening in January 2025 after spending “necessary renovations.”
The Broadway power couple said they want to do some minor “renovations” to the restaurant upstairs, focusing primarily on infrastructure behind the scenes.
The D'Angora family said the biggest change will be to the Laurie Beechman Theater downstairs. The new addition will revitalize the space and allow it to better host theater workshops and evening shows.
“At night, this can be a premier space for Broadway stars…for Broadway, burlesque jazz, cabaret, and all the great entertainment that makes up our community,” said Tom D'Angola.
The D'Angoras vowed that the management, bartenders, waitstaff, and favorite menu items will all remain the same at this iconic location.
“And because of all these personal relationships and shared history, we've built with our customers and friends,” he said.
Local politicians praised the news.
“We would like to thank Tom and Michael D'Angola for stepping up to save this historic institution,” said state Rep. Brad Hoylman-Segal.
“This is some of the best news I've heard in a long time,” added City Councilman Eric Bottcher.
Although the West Bank Café has been officially saved, the Dangoras said there is still much work left to do.
“It's going to be a fun adventure because there's a lot going on,” Michael D'angola said.
