Apparently some people did like the décor in Tavern on the Green, after all—a court-ordered sale of the restaurant’s gawdy interior made a big dent in the bankrupt establishment’s $8 million debt. The piecemeal auction, which sold not only items from Tavern but from the Russian Tea Room and other restaurants, lasted three days and earned millions. But was it enough to keep the historic eatery’s 400-plus creditors at bay?
According to AP, the auction’s highest-selling items were Tiffany glass ceilings that went for $180,000 and $120,000. Other good-sellers included the tavern’s Tiffany peacock mural at $75,000 and the century-old green chandelier from the main glassed-in Crystal Room at $67,500. A pig weathervane fetched $5,000, while 80 martini glasses from the bar went for just $100. They even sold the wine! 300 bottled of the sparkly stuff sold for $475. In all, the auction brought in $3.5 million.
Dean Poll, the restaurateur who has agreed to spend $25 million restoring the space, showed up to collect a few lamps. But he’s still vying for the most expensive item of all—the restaurant’s name, valued at $19 million. A judge is deciding whether Poll will be allowed to call his new business Tavern on the Green.
