The future of Delmonico’s, the country’s oldest steakhouse, operating since 1837 up until the pandemic, appears to be at stake.
The 186-year-old Financial District restaurant also served as the exterior for the Continental Hotel in the John Wick film series and has been closed for nearly three years.
However, there is currently a dispute with two parties claiming to have the right to reopen the restaurant in the Financial District.
The Continental is John Wick’s most iconic spot: a hotel for assassins, where they can sip scotch, make eye contact with other assassins while conducting ‘business’ in the heart of the financial district.
One of Manhattan’s oldest restaurants, Delmonico’s, is about to return to the Financial District after being closed for nearly three years
When it was open, the restaurant was famous for its innovative American fare, including Eggs Benedict, Manhattan Clam Chowder, and the famous Delmonico Ribeye steak pictured above
When it was open, the restaurant was famous for its innovative American dishes, including Eggs Benedict, Manhattan Clam Chowder, and the famous Delmonico ribeye steak.
The dispute revolves around who owns the rights to the Delmonico name and its use.
A press release sent out last week indicated the restaurant would be returning in the fall of 2023, but an Instagram post on Delmonico’s Instagram account claimed that “recent reports that we will be reopening at 56 Beaver Street are incorrect.
“It has come to our attention that former employees have misrepresented themselves to the media as the owners of Delmonico’s,” the post reads.
One family says they have the right to use the trademarked name, while a second party claims announcing any kind of reopening is a trademark violation.
An Instagram post on Delmonico’s Instagram account claims that “recent reports that we will be reopening at 56 Beaver Street are false.”
The legendary New York City restaurant at 56 Beaver Street served as the “dressed up” exterior of the Continental Hotel in the John Wick film series. Keanu Reeves is pictured above
The 186-year-old Delmonico restaurant in New York City closed when COVID 2020 struck
Delmonico’s closed its doors and “suspended all operations” as part of the lockdown on March 18, 2020. This image shows chefs preparing food at Delmonico in 1902
The Grgurevs, who formerly ran the restaurant and currently runs the Delmonico’s Instagram account, allege that new tenants of the 56 Beaver Street location are using the Delmonico’s name in bad faith without their involvement and are not involved in the restaurant’s relaunch.
The Grgurevs are also in the process of filing a lawsuit against the new operators.
The disagreement revolves around a spring 2021 court decision in which brothers Ferdo and Omer Grgurev managed to secure full ownership of the site, but were banned from operating a Delmonico’s restaurant or any other restaurant in the area until March 2023 Prohibited within one mile.
However, the Grgurevs have stated that they still have the right to operate the restaurant under the Delmonico name.
Meanwhile, Dennis Turcinovic and Joseph Licul, who have interests in another restaurant, claim to be the new owners of the property as of January 1, 2023 and are not involved in an ongoing legal battle with the previous owners.
Delmonico’s was among restaurants and bars across the country forced to close during the coronavirus lockdown. They never opened again
A Turcinovic representative told Eater how he and Licul signed a new 15-year lease with Time Equities and denied any claims that might indicate they are not the legal owners.
They have announced plans to remove any websites that suggest otherwise and plan to launch new websites if the problem is not resolved.
But the Grgurev brothers say they have the right to operate the restaurant under the Delmonico name, while others are barred from operating Delmonico’s or any other restaurants within a mile radius until March this year.
In April 2022, landlord Time Equities attempted to evict the restaurant, run by the Grgurev family, for alleged non-payment of nearly $300,000 in rent and fees.
Some of Delmonico’s legendary steaks, seen in the fridge when the venue was open prior to 2020
Delmonico’s busy kitchen dating back to 1902 when the restaurant was 65 years old
Mark Twain’s 70th birthday dinner at Delmonico’s on December 5, 1905
The Grgurev family denied the eviction claim, saying it was related to the landlord’s delay in repairing water damage to the building from Hurricane Ida in 2021.
In December 2022, the lease expired and the landlord did not renew it. Time Equities then signed the deal with Turcinovic and Licul, Grgurev’s former partners.
Michelle Grgurev, daughter of Omer Grgurev, now says her family believes the landlord deliberately let the lease expire so that it could be reallocated to new tenants.
The legendary New York restaurant serves as the exterior of the Continental Hotel in the John Wick film series
Dinner menu from Delmonico’s on April 18, 1899