A recent court filing reveals that Michael Weinstein, the operator of Bryant Park Grill, has accused a nonprofit overseeing age discrimination in New York City of abandoning him in favor of renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
For three decades, Weinstein’s Ark Restaurant has been leasing picturesque glass grills from Bryant Park Corporation, generating about $25 million in annual revenue—making it one of the top-performing restaurants in the country.
However, Daniel Biederman, the head of Bryant Park Corporation, chose not to renew the leases for Weinstein and Ark when they expired in April.
Biederman instead collaborated with Seaport Entertainment Group, whose partner, Vongerichten, holds multiple Michelin stars.
Weinstein is currently 81 years old, while Vongerichten is 68.
“From the very start, with Dan Biederman’s approval, he used Mr. Weinstein’s age against him in this process,” asserted Ark’s lawyer, Anthony Genovesi, in an amended complaint filed with the Manhattan Supreme Court in April. “What BPC did is straightforward discrimination.”
The expanded complaints detail that Biederman indicated Weinstein’s age and potential succession issues factored into the decision not to renew Ark Restaurant’s leases.
Biederman, 71, countered, “I never claimed he was too old to run the grill. It’s an 18-year lease. We questioned all four applicants about how they would manage if they were suddenly unavailable.”
In April, Judge Anna Ruthod Patel was informed by Biederman’s attorney, Gil Feder, that Weinstein filed lawsuits against the Parks Department, BPC, Seaport Group, and even the New York Public Library, criticizing what he termed an “improper” bidding process.
Patel dismissed Weinstein’s request for an injunction to prevent his ousting, stating in April that “complaining about the competition’s outcome does not equate to malicious intent.”
Amidst this peculiar dispute within the city’s restaurant scene, Weinstein continues to operate the grills and outdoor cafes despite the lease’s expiration.
Gil Feder mentioned to the Post that Biederman could “quickly” remove Ark from the premises, although adding that such a process might extend over several months.
This ongoing situation means the grill will stay open during the busy summer period. Should Vongerichten’s company take over, reports suggest it may face a closure of up to a year for renovations if it loses its key.
