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December 9, 2013- The Commercial Observer interviewed restaurateur Danny Meyer about real estate and the impact of his restaurants. Interestingly, he was asked whether USHG was going to manage Pier 26. His answer seems to confirm our suspicion that he has not visited Battery Park City in two years.
Excerpts from the interview:
Is there any truth to the rumors about USHG restaurants opening on Pier 26 and in Harlem?
No. The Harlem one has been persistent to the point that people don’t believe me when I say “no.” A broker actually spread a rumor, which is a great way to never do business with someone. And I don’t even know where Pier 26 is.
USHG recently announced an upcoming restaurant in the King & Grove hotel at 29 East 29th Street. Do you think NoMad is still one of those pockets with potential?
Oh, I know it is. Actually, I should say that we’re confident there’s this rich stock of small boutique beaux arts hotels that are roughly 100 years old and have gone through all kinds of cycles including glory days and down-and-out days as SRO units. They’re coming back.
And does the King & Grove spot have a name?
I think it’s still unnamed, but we’re narrowing it down.
As of a few years ago, USHG opened a new restaurant every four years or so. Why the speedup?
It’s generational. And it’s basically recognizing that we have a number of really talented people on our team who are in their 30s or early 40s right now who’ve been with us for close to 20 years. They want to grow, and they want to stay with the family. We give those people who are entrepreneurial an opportunity to do that. And we didn’t have that opportunity 10 years ago.