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Kara VanDooijeweert and Michael V. Pettigano, NorthJersey.com
Café des Artistes – a beloved restaurant in Manhattan that was known for its French food, artsy clientele and Howard Chandler Christy murals before it shuttered in 2009 – announced its reopening early next year.
The restaurant, just a block from Lincoln Center at 1 W 67th St., will be reopened by Ariel Arce and Max Katzenberg, the owners of AirMax Hospitality and the pair behind Tokyo Record Bar, Pearl Box, Roscioli NYC, Leonessa and Big Pearl Caviar.
While much of the restaurant’s plans are still under wraps, it will bring back such its signature dishes such as Salmon Four Ways, pot-au-feu and tarte à l’oignon. And yes, the Christy murals from the 1930s still cover the walls.
The long legacy of Café des Artistes
The history behind the cafe dates back a century, but after closing on West 67th Street in New York City in 2009, it seemed like its fate was sealed. However, on the afternoon of Sept. 25, Café des Artistes announced through an Instagram post that it’s “returning to its original glamour” and reopening early next year.
The cafe first opened just a year after Hotel des Artistes was built. In 1917, the cafe was built in the lobby, and originally started as a dining room for the Hotel des Artistes’ residents. Through its nearly 90 years, it grew into a romantic, French dining spot, known for bringing actors, dancers, musicians, writers and artists into the space.
It survived an ownership takeover, but ultimately, after it was closed for a month-long vacation in 2009, NBC New York reported that it closed permanently, citing the economy and a union lawsuit. A few years later, George Lang, the owner who transformed the restaurant into what it is still known for today, died after struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, The New York Times reported.
While we wait for the much anticipated return, AirMax is asking former diners, staff, neighbors and others to share their memories of the cafe through stories, photos and art.
People can submit these memories to memories@cafedesartistesnyc.com. The hospitality group said these memories will help them bring elements of the past into the reopened spot.