Restaurant Closure and Owner’s Accident
A well-known restaurant on the Upper West Side has unexpectedly closed, facing claims of over $1 million in unpaid rent due to its owner’s serious accident in Mexico, according to reports.
The Milling Room, famous for its large dining area and distinctive glass ceiling, shut its doors last December after more than a decade in business, reportedly owing as much as $1.2 million to its landlord, insiders revealed.
Owner Luis Gonzalez, reached in Mexico, chose not to disclose specifics about the debt. He recounted that the accident happened during a traditional temazcal ritual—which involves participants entering a dim, womb-like setting filled with steam and hot volcanic stones—ultimately forcing the restaurant’s closure.
“I’ve practiced this ancient custom my whole adult life, but, well, this time it wasn’t managed properly,” he explained. “It was way too hot and crowded, and I ended up falling onto the red rocks. Thankfully, someone helped me up, and I can still share my story.”
Since the incident, Gonzalez has undergone 14 surgeries and has suffered burns covering more than 30% of his body.
However, sources indicated that he had stopped paying rent long before the accident occurred.
“The landlord believed it would be preferable to establish a payment plan instead of leaving the storefront vacant, given the restaurant’s lengthy operation,” a source shared.
The restaurant space, located at 445 Columbus Avenue between West 81st and 82nd Streets, is now available for lease at $60,000 monthly. Leif Evans, the broker for Walker Malloy & Company, mentioned that a deal has been arranged with a top restaurateur.
“I think the neighbors will appreciate the change,” Evans added.
Sources indicate that the team behind popular restaurants Olio et Piu and Boucherie is in discussions to take over the space and establish Boucherie Upper West Side.
If that deal doesn’t happen, several other restaurateurs are reportedly prepared to step in.
Regarding the unpaid rent, Evans stated, “When businesses close, it’s common for there to be unpaid dues. You can’t effectively manage a restaurant from thousands of miles away.”
The Milling Room, which had plans to transform into a Mexican restaurant named Ashi, headed by acclaimed chef Jesús Duron, was unable to proceed with the transition due to Gonzalez’s accident.
“We were geared up to relaunch as Ashi, but the accident completely derailed us,” Gonzalez explained. “I was bedridden for four months. My health had to come first.”
Prior to the accident, Gonzalez shared that the restaurant was struggling, with food prices soaring “20% to 30%” since the pandemic started.
“Honestly, right now, my focus is solely on my recovery,” he said. “I was responsible for daily operations but became largely absent. I needed to prioritize getting back to health.”
In a contrasting view, Gonzalez’s former publicist described him differently. “He’s elusive,” remarked Ken Friedman, who had been brought in to promote Ashi. “Not only was he behind on rent, but he also hadn’t paid his publicist. The last time we spoke was a few months back.”
“We were sitting on a bench on Columbus Street, and he mentioned buying a million-dollar apartment in Montreal the following day. That’s the last I heard.”
New Cocktail Bar Opens
On another note, a new cocktail bar named Yesterday’s has opened its doors at 157 Bleecker Street, previously occupied by Carroll Place, offering a fresh spin on classic bar experiences.
Covering 6,500 square feet over two levels and seating 150 patrons, the venue designed by Yakka Studio features leather booths, a cozy “book corner,” and a glittering disco ball overhead, perfect for enjoying classic cocktails, wood-fired pizza, and watching events like the NBA playoffs or the World Cup.
