Future of America’s oldest steakhouse, Delmonico’s, closed for past three years in doubt

The future of Delmonico’s, the country’s oldest steakhouse that had been in operation from 1837 until the pandemic, appears to hang in the balance.

The 186-year-old restaurant, located in the Financial District, also serves as exterior shots 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 who now claim to have the right to reopen the restaurant located in the financial district.

The Continental is John Wick’s most iconic venue: a hotel for assassins where they can drink whiskey, watch other assassins while taking care of “business” in the heart of the financial district.

When it was open, the restaurant was famous for its innovative American dishes, including eggs benedict, Manhattan clam chowder, and Delmonico’s famous ribeye steak, pictured above.

When it was open, the restaurant was famous for its innovative American dishes, including Eggs Benedict, Manhattan clam chowder, and Delmonico’s famous ribeye steak.

The dispute centers on who owns the rights to the Delmonico name and its use.

A press release sent out last week indicated how the restaurant would return in the fall of 2023, but an Instagram post on Delmonico’s Instagram account alleged that “recent reports that we will reopen at 56 Beaver Street are false.”

“It has come to our attention that former associates have been falsely presenting themselves to the media as the owners of Delmonico’s,” the post said.

One family claims they have the right to use the trademarked name, while a second party claims that announcing any kind of reopening is a violation of trademark rights.

An Instagram post on Delmonico’s Instagram account alleges that “recent reports that we will reopen at 56 Beaver Street are false.”

The iconic New York restaurant at 56 Beaver Street has served as the ‘redressed’ exterior of The Continental Hotel in the John Wick film series. Keanu Reeves is shown, above

186-year-old New York City restaurant Delmonico’s closed when COVID hit in 2020

Delmonico’s closed its doors and “suspended all operations” as part of the closure on March 18, 2020. This image shows cooks preparing food at Delmonico’s in 1902

The Grgurevs, who used to operate the restaurant and currently manage Delmonico’s Instagram account, claim that new tenants at the 56 Beaver Street location are using Delmonico’s name in bad faith, without his input, and are not involved in the relaunch. from the restaurant.

The Grgurevs are also in the process of filing a lawsuit against the new operators.

The disagreement centers on a legal ruling in spring 2021 in which brothers Ferdo and Omer Grgurev managed to secure full ownership of the venue, but were barred from operating a Delmonico’s or any other restaurant within a mile until March 2023. .

However, the Grgurevs have stated that they also have the right to continue to operate the restaurant under the Delmonico name.

Meanwhile, Dennis Turcinovic and Joseph Licul, who are involved in another restaurant, now claim to be the new owners of the property as of January 1, 2023, and are not involved in any ongoing lawsuits with the previous owners.

Delmonico’s was one of several restaurants and bars across the country forced to close during the coronavirus lockdown. they have never reopened

A representative for Turcinovic said Diner how he and Licul signed a new 15-year lease with Time Equities and deny any claim that might suggest they are not the rightful owners.

They have announced plans to remove any websites that suggest otherwise and plan to launch new websites if the issue is not resolved.

But the Grgurev brothers claim they have the right to operate the restaurant under the Delmonico’s name and others are prohibited from operating any Delmonico’s or other restaurant within a mile until March of this year.

In April 2022, the owner, Time Equities, attempted to evict the restaurant, which is run by the Grgurev family, for alleged failure to pay nearly $300,000 in rent and fees.

Some of Delmonico’s legendary steaks seen in the fridge when the place was open prior to 2020

Delmonico’s busy kitchen seen in 1902 when the restaurant was 65 years old

Mark Twain’s 70th birthday dinner at Delmonico’s held on December 5, 1905

The Grgurev family denied the eviction claim, stating it was related to the landlord’s delay in repairing water damage to the building from Hurricane Ida in 2021.

By December 2022, the lease expired and the owner did not renew it, Time Equities then signed the deal with Turcinovic and Licul, Grgurev’s former partners.

Michelle Grgurev, Omer Grgurev’s daughter, now says her family believes the landlord intentionally allowed the lease to expire so he could reissue it to new tenants.

The iconic New York restaurant appears as the exterior of the Continental Hotel in the John Wick film series

Delmonico’s dinner menu on April 18, 1899