The multi-concept restaurant group Landry’s Inc. has made a $22 million bid to acquire most of Fireman Hospitality Group’s restaurants out of bankruptcy.
The Fireman group, which is parent to the iconic New York restaurants Café Fiorello, Trattoria Dell’Arte, and Bond 45, among others, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August. The filing came about a year after founder Sheldon (Shelly) Fireman died at the age of 93.
Fireman’s restaurants were known for key locations in New York’s theater district, and near Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Some concepts also were operated in Washington, D.C.
Court documents indicate FHG Acquisitions, an affiliate of Fertitta Entertainment, was the stalking horse bidder, and in October made a bid of $22 million in cash and other considerations for essentially all assets, including the group’s other concepts, like Brasserie 57, Brooklyn Diner, Paris Bar, and more. In the filing, the operations were consolidated under SMF Group Inc.
Houston-based Fertitta Entertainment is owned by billionaire Tilman Fertitta, who also owns Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, and the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Fertitta is also the Trump Administration’s ambassador to Italy.
Landry’s has long been a collector of restaurant concepts, including many out of bankruptcy. The group owns the Mastro’s Steakhouse, Ocean Club, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Del Frisco’s, and The Palm, as well as Rainforest Café, Saltgrass Steak, and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
But reports indicate that Landry’s was primarily interested in the flagship locations of Café Fiorello, Trattoria Dell’Arte and Bond 45.
Meanwhile, Jeff Crivello, the former CEO of Famous Dave’s, was a co-bidder in the auction, according to the New York Post.
Crivello’s Ciao Hospitality group will pick up several of the Fireman restaurants, including Paris Bar in Le Meridien Central Park Hotel, and the rooftop lounge Le Jardin, as well as Brooklyn Delicatessen and two units of Brooklyn Diner.
Crivello, in an email, said leases are still in negotiation, but there are no plans to convert the restaurants to other concepts.
According to Eater, the Washington, D.C. location of Café Fiorello is scheduled to close permanently after service on Oct. 28. In addition, Fireman’s Fiorella Italian Kitchen in the National Harbor development in D.C. is scheduled to close on Oct. 29.
Neither Landry’s nor officials from the Fireman group responded to requests for more information.
