Oh, The Donald. Never one to let a little thing like a lease get in the way of his plans, the brazen billionaire yesterday announced he'd come to a deal with the late-Tavern on the Green's old union to operate the tourist attraction, even though he doesn't have a lease for the spot (and the city isn't jumping to give him one).
Tavern on the Green, which the closed on New Year's 2009 after the LeRoy family's lease expired, was the subject of a much discussed bidding war among restaurateurs. Dean Poll, who operates the Boat House in the park, initially won the right to run the restaurant, but dropped out after reaching a standstill in negotiations with the eatery's labor union. Most recently it housed a bunch of food trucks, to neighbors dismay.
Enter Donald Trump. Yesterday he announced his deal with the union, without announcing the specifics, and told the media that if the City would just give him a lease he "could have it built and operating in a year." He'll even bring back the Crystal Room, which the city removed. Further, the always modest gentleman argues that “Everyone wants this to happen, and nobody else but me can do it, because I’m the only one who has the money.”
The city, for its part, isn't biting. Yet. They do eventually want to make the restaurant active again, but they also most likely will want to put the operating license up for another bid when the time comes. Or, as a spokesman put it, “the city is not ready to announce any future plans for Tavern on the Green and has not had any discussions with possible restaurant operators.”
Yet some crazy souls are rooting for Trump. Manhattan Beep Scott Stringer sent out this release today:
The doors of Tavern on the Green have been shut for way too long. In these tough economic times, our City cannot afford to have this landmark institution that draws millions of visitors from around the world and generates millions in revenue be closed one day more. I commend Donald Trump and Peter Ward for coming together to guarantee 400 plus union jobs and the potential for much needed revenue for our cash strapped city. Lets get this done!
Meanwhile, it turns out Trump bought the URL to TrumpTavernontheGreen.com back in February, 2009. But luckily, when asked if he planned to put his name on the venue (if he gets it), Trump judiciously responded "it would be called Tavern on the Green. I don't think every place needs to be called Trump." So at least there is that.
