The Shophound

Today In Ground Beef:Bloomingdale's FL!Ps For Burgers

Bloomingdale's timely renovation of its men's departments has been chugging along nicely. Just recently, half of its main floor furnishings area was refreshed, while the other side has been put under wraps along with the designer boutiques downstairs. As promised, the department store has unveiled a new restaurant for its updated mid-level sportswear area, the suitably masculine FL!P (it only looks right in Helvetica caps-lock), a burger joint with counter service and, apparently, and excellent ventilation system. Don't think they have gone downmarket. The burgers start at $12 ($9 for veggie), not including toppings or sides. The menu offers the opportunity to create one's own burger platter with a variety of different options and combinations, and tops out with the Benedict Burger, featuring American-bred Wagyu beef with Canadian Bacon, ultra-melted American Cheese sauce and a fried egg grilled "pattie style" on organic NY rye bread served with steak fries for $23. Presumably there will be a cardiologist on staff.
Yes, it's pricey, but this is Bloomingdale's, after all, and if it's cheap burgers you want, then McDonald's is down the street.
FL!P at Bloomingdale's 1000 Third Avenue betweeen 59th & 60th Streets, Lower Level. Pick-up orders available 212.705.2993

Today In Relocation:Chocolate Bar Heads East

After losing its original West Village space to the usual rent-related drama, Chocolate Bar has migrated East, and today marks its Grand Opening on East 7th Street.
Along with its usual arrays of sweets and drinks, artisanal egg creams have been added to the options offered at the new location.
If chocolate alone isn't enough to lure you in, the fine folks at Chocolate Bar are offering a Meet the Neighbors Special to celebrate the opening of its new home, which includes 1/2 price drip coffee and espresso for the first month and a complimentary stencil bar with every iced or hot liquid chocolate purchase (while supplies last).
Chocolate Bar 127 East 7th Street between 1st Avenue & Avenue A

Today In Unexpected Developments:Florent To Reopen On Tuesday...Without Florent

We're not sure if this is a welcome relief or a cruel joke, but The much loved and even more talked about Gansevoort Street restaurant Florent, which is closing this Sunday amidst much fanfare and hoopla, will be reopened on Tuesday under the original name above the door, R&L Restaurant, and will be operated by the space's landlord while Florent Morellet will no longer be involved, taking his name and neon sign with him. According to our friends at Eater, the menu, décor and staff will largely remain the same.
This would strongly suggest that landlord Joanne Lucas couldn't find any tenants at the exorbitant rent she was asking, although, given the timing and the fact that Lucas and Morellet were in a bitter, protracted dispute over tax issues long before the lease expired, it all looks strangely fishy.
We can't tell if this was a last minute save, or a vindictive scheme.
Allegedly.
BLOCKBUSTER Exclusive: Florent to Re-Open as R & L Restaurant on Tuesday!! (EATER)

Restaurant Swap at Lord & Taylor:In With Sarabeth's - Out With An American Place

The folks at Lord & Taylor continue to make savvy decisions regarding the revival of their historic Fifth Avenue flagship store. While, to The Shophound, eating at Lord & Taylor will always conjure up images of The Bird Cage (the restaurant, not the movie) with it's elaborate decor of cages and exotic stuffed birds and a fluffy coconut cake for dessert, in recent years the culinary role has been filled by celebrated chef Larry Forgione and his signature restaurant, An American Place. Recognizing that Forgione may have been getting lost in the vast department store, The New York Times tells us that his restaurants will soon be replaced with one of New Yorkers' favorite restaurant chains, Sarabeth's Kitchen. So far, there is no word on the resilient Mr. Forgione's future plans.
We couldn't possibly think of a better way to drive repeat traffic down to Lord & Taylor. Sarabeth's is now poised to go national as they will replace restaurants in other L&T branches over the next two years.
Off the Menu (NYTimes, 8^th item)

Big Changes In Store For The Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market has had a pretty stable set of retailers since it opened, but recent changes and more to come could spark something of a makeover for the popular collection food stores.
Looking for flowers? Keep walking. The prominent Chelsea Wholesale Flower Market, once the first store you would see at the Ninth Avenue entrance, is gone, and there is talk about breaking up the 8,500 square foot space and opening it's windows to the street to attract a higher profile tenant. Frank's Butcher Shop and Steakhouse is also gone, its 5,300 square feet also currently vacant, and the Manhattan Fruit Exchange is in a legal dispute with its landlord. Even the newsstand has been shuttered as rents throughout the market have reportedly tripled.
One suspects that the rise of the Meatpacking District social scene has encouraged landlords to go for more glamorous nightlife-oriented tenants, but doesn't that defeat the complex's original purpose as an eclectic collection of food retailers and restaurants?
Chelsea Market's growth spurs closings (The Real Deal)

Florent Update: Set To Close on June 29

The New York Post reports that Florent, the popular Meatpacking District restaurant will close on June 29th, three months after its lease expires. Florent, as we have mentioned before, opened in the mid-'80s and was one of the adventurous businesses that led to the Meatpacking District's current commercial success. Owner Florent Morellet is still in court with his landlord over tax issues, but has resigned himself to closing the restaurant with a bang on Gay Pride Day. Expect crowds at 69 Gansevoort Street, as Florent is right on the way to the annual Dance On The Pier. Florent tells the Post:

I'm looking forward to the next stage in my life and at the same time I have great sadness about losing the restaurant," he says, adding, "If you don't get a kick in the butt, another 23 years down the road, let's say, I would be 78 and sitting at the same table talking about, 'When I opened the restaurant. . .

We will be interested to see who ultimately takes the space for nearly $600,000 a year.
Dingy Diner Of Stars Meatpacking It In (NYPost)

Florent Update: Site Officially On The Market

For the record, we are way more upset about this than we were about Jerry's.
Sadly, we have no encouraging news to report on this story. Our friends at Eater are keeping us updated on the fate of beloved Meatpacking District bistro/diner Florent. While owner Florent Morellet continues to battle his landlord in court over tax issues,  the Winick Group is officially listing the space for a jaw dropping $700,000 a year starting in May. That's a big jump from Florent's current $6K a month, but as Earter speculates, it's also way beyond what another casual restaurant could pay and operate profitably. It is likely to go to a high-end boutique, however, this is not necessarily the best spot for a designer shop. Other restaurant spaces a few doors down appear to remain empty, and it's just off the beaten path of 14th or Washington Streets. Of course, adding insult to injury, a designer boutique would more than likely do away with the entire vintage metal "R&L Restaurant" facade, an integral part of Florent's charm.
We're rooting for you Florent.
Keep fighting!
Florent Watch: Restaurant Officially Being Shopped for $700K/Yr (Eater)

Florent Update: Future Murkier for Much-Loved Restaurant

The news on Meatpacking District institution Florent restaurant is not looking promising. The Observer and Eater have the latest updates. Apparently owner Florent Morellet and his landlord have been in a long running dispute over tax issues and are now in court. There is a little more to the story than just a lease expiration, though the tenacious restaurateur point out that the newer higher-rent-paying businesses in the area haven't necessarily been hugely successful:

“It’s funny because that block looks more and more like it did when I opened 23 years ago; it’s very gloomy,” he said, laughing. “Maybe the little doll that I have with all the little needles in it is paying off.”

Perhaps this is the secret to his success?

Will Meatpacking Pioneer Have to Pack It In? (The New York Observer)
Florent Watch: Morellet Goes to Court, Faces New $70K Rent (Eater)
Previously: Disturbing Real Estate News: Meatpacking District Pioneer Florent to be Ousted?

Illy Push Button House Unfolds on Columbus Circle

For those of you wondering what that structure that has appeared on the second floor of Time Warner Center is, we are here to tell you that it is the illy Push Button House, a fully functional and sustainable home built from a recycled, standard industrial shipping container. We are told that it takes approximately 90 seconds to fully open, controlled by a specially designed computer located inside the dining room table. With the push of a button (hence the name), the container opens into a five-room home with a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, living room and library, though, apparently, without walls. The house was designed by architect Adam Kalkin and made its debut at the 52^nd Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition this past June. You may be looking at the mobile home of the future, or perhaps an evolution and devolution in pre-fab housing all at the same time. It will be on display through December 29^th.
The makeshift café will feature illy's "Cup of Kindness" holiday tree which will accept donations and, in return, dispense one of several gifts including specially designed and signed illy coffee cups. We are guessing, however, that the biggest draw will be the espresso that illy's baristas were distributing to a patient line of shoppers. We saw it on a Monday afternoon, so count on swarms of thirsty caffeine addicts on the weekends.
illy Push Button House (Press Release) The Shops at Time Warner Center, 2^nd floor through Saturday December 29^th.

West 57th Now Fast-Food Free: Goodbye McDonald's

Critics have long noted that the block of 57th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue gets increasingly seedy as one walks West past the big red 9, culminating in a busy, bi-level McDonald's near Sixth. Things may be looking up, or rather, upscale, over there because Mickey D's is gone.
We can only speculate that the rent finally got to them, but we can imagine that many a midtown worker may be disappointed to lose the only fast food lunch their side of Rockefeller Center (whether they would admit it or not).
One store not likely to miss their neighbor is the Guy Laroche boutique next door, although judging from the general jankiness of their window display, we have to wonder if they actually deserve more elegant company. Seriously, has anyone from the Paris headquarters been in to see this store?