Premier NYC French Restaurant Lespinasse to Close

The Associated Press ^ | 4/11/03 | The Associated Press

[jimbo123]

NEW YORK (AP) - One of Manhattan's premier French restaurants, Lespinasse, announced it would close next week because of the economic and political climate. The 12-year-old restaurant in the midtown St. Regis Hotel was favored for its sumptuous beige and gold antique decor and prize-winning wine list and cuisine.

Lespinasse was one of six Manhattan restaurants with a four-star rating from The New York Times.

A statement from the owners said the current economic and world political climate made staying open unprofitable. The restaurant will close April 19.

Guenter H. Richter, managing director of the St. Regis, said, "We carried it as long as we could. Any reopening will be determined by the pace of the economic recovery."

There was no indication that the closing was due to anti-French sentiment over France's opposition to the war in Iraq. The city tourism agency, NYC & Company, said some French restaurants have suffered from tense U.S.-French relations, though no formal boycott was evident.

[jimbo123]

Good riddance.

[finnman69]

Too bad, it was a very good restaurant.

[Support Free Republic]

---

God Bless This Great Country!
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[cynicom]

The Times might better stay in their own league, hamburger joints and such, more fitting.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[jimbo123]

There are plenty of good non-French restaurants that are deserving of our hard-earned dollars.

[Dog Gone]

They probably didn't offer Freedom Toast.

[cubreporter]

Exactly. Why does the French food turn so many people on? Give me good ole Spaghetti and Meatballs, Irish Stew and Yorkshire Pudding any ole day.

[PianoMan]

NY One News had a report today that French restaurants are mounting a public relations campaign to get people eating in them again. Attendance at some of the premier restaurants (they mentioned Perigord) is down as much as 50%.

This is not coming so much from New York residents as from businesses, who have clients that REFUSE to eat French, so they're cancelling big bookings at these restauurants.

[FeliciaCat]

I agree.

I dont get why people would boycott a French Restaurant that is IN NEW YORK!!??!?!? wouldn't that hurt OUR economy??? Boycott imported French products, but why would we want to hurt American businesses?

[Mihalis]

In our boycott of French products, discussed right here on FR, we made it clear that boycotting French restaurants and French-named business here in America is not a smart thing to do. We'd be only hurting the US economy and our own communities. I hope this closure is not a result of such boycott.

[jimbo123]

These whining restaurant owners can change their menus to more appropriate cuisines. Change with the times or go out of business.

[mabelkitty]

How would that hurt your economy? Somebody else is going to go to another restaurant, and their business will increase?

It's called supply and demand and the cycle of the economy.

If they didn't suck, we'd still be eating French food.

[Snuffington]

I dont get why people would boycott a French Restaurant that is IN NEW YORK!!??!?!? wouldn't that hurt OUR economy??? Boycott imported French products, but why would we want to hurt American businesses?

I have no idea why people do this, because you're exactly right, and there are some people definitely doing this. Maybe we should change the name to "Freedom food," and wait for the mob mentality to pass and reason to return. :-)

[bigfootbob]

"Why does the French food turn so many people on?"

Because it's made with copious quantities of butter and other fats.

[Roughneck]

I've been in one or two french restaurants, but I don't remember eating any good food in one. Geez! these folks eat snails and find them "filling".

I also remember stopping for a burger on the way home...

[jimbo123]

These people can find jobs at non-French restaurants that don't serve wine and foods imported from France.

[timestax]

Awwww. booo hoooo oooo!!

[kidd]

Au revoir, monsieur Frog.

[Calico Cat]

Many high-end restaurants where I live (Portland, Oregon) are hurting and closing, as well. The economy's bad. People are eating cheap Mexican and Asian when they go out, or are eating at home. The fact that it's a French restaurant probably has little to do with it.

[KarlInOhio]

The Times might better stay in their own league, hamburger joints and such, more fitting.

Best foods for the Times to review: Fresh fish and birdseed, because it is fit only for wrapping fish and lining birdcages.

[Mihalis]

I agree, boycotting American businesses just because they have a French name is not smart.

On the other hand, the public's distaste for anything French is the result of a justified outrage.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Comme vous partez, ne laissez pas la porte frapper vos 'asses'.

[Snuffington]

I hope this closure is not a result of such boycott.

The closure was probably a combination of hard economic times, NY tourism being down post 9/11, and a reading that some people are turning against all things remotely French (read some comments in this thread if there is any doubt about that last one).

[usastandsunited]

We'd be only hurting the US economy and our own communities

I'd like to see the data on that analysis.

[putupon]

Iraq, US/French relations not withstanding, how can you have an authentic French resturant in a city where you can't smoke cigarettes?

[eastsider]

There was no indication that the closing was due to anti-French sentiment over France's opposition to the war in Iraq. The city tourism agency, NYC & Company, said some French restaurants have suffered from tense U.S.-French relations, though no formal boycott was evident.

"There is no boycott."

[KarlInOhio]

but I don't remember eating any good food in one. Geez! these folks eat snails and find them "filling".

Maybe you should have ordered the sauerbraten and spaetzle. Good solid food for marching through the French countryside along their tree-line roads. :-)

[Consort]

[jimbo123]

If more French restaurants that go out of business, more business will be available for non-French restaurants.

[Alberta's Child]

I have a friend in the restaurant business (Italian, not French), and he says that the economic climate is the primary cause for the difficulties these restaurants are facing. His corporate clientele has dried up substantially.

Fortunately, he's managed to protect himself from a major collapse by also owning a very successful pizza joint in a modest area.

[jimbo123]

How can you have an authentic French restaurant in a country where the people bathe and use deodorant?

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

said some French restaurants have suffered from tense U.S.-French relations, though no formal boycott was evident.

No evidence? Except for the Headline of your own article, pretentious AP.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

said some French restaurants have suffered from tense U.S.-French relations, though no formal boycott was evident.

No evidence? Except for the Headline of your own article, pretentious AP.

[BillyBonebrake]

Remember the frog farmer who became the frog national hero for smashing up the local MacDonalds with a sledge hammer?

[Calico Cat]

I wouldn't care if every French restaurant went out of business, myself. I prefer Italian and Chinese food--French cuisine must be the single most overrated cuisine in the world.

[twigs]

I never understood it either. It has always made me sick. When I grew up, if you wanted to go to a good resturant, it meant French. Today, as my experience has widened, it is probably the only ethnic cuisine I don't like. Give me German, ME, Indian, Chinese, probably in that order. Do NOT give me French.

[SkyPilot]

Les Libéraux Sont des Idiots to take its place.

[demnomo]

Serves them right.

[jimbo123]

Here's their menu...

[N. Theknow]

The makers of French's Mustard made the following recent statement:"We at the French's Company wish to put an end to statements that our product is manufactured in France. There is no relationship, nor has there ever been a relationship, between our mustard and the country of France. Indeed, our mustard is manufactured in Rochester, NY.

The only thing we have in common is that we are both yellow".

[putupon]

How can you have an authentic French restaurant in a country where the people bathe and use deodorant?

Hmmmm....I believe you may have found the answer to why the Frogs chain smoke.

[Fifth Business]

I wonder if it was doing well before the political climate changed. Last weekend I went to a restaurant here in Chicago that serves French cuisine, and it was PACKED, as always. Restaurants close all the time. Maybe this one in NY was in poor financial condition already.

[jimbo123]

[FeliciaCat]

The French Restaurant in NYC is still an American business (I am assuming it is American owned) therefore why would I go out of my way to boycott it just because of its origins????? Like I said, boycott IMPORTED FRENCH products if you want, thats DIRECTLY aimed at FRANCE'S economy, not the USA's.

I'm not getting why this is a difficult for some to understand....

[jimbo123]

From what country do French restaurants import their expensive selections of wine?

[JustAnAmerican]

"We'd be only hurting the US economy and our own communities.

You are kidding right? Let me see if I have this straight, because a French restaurant closes it's doors, everyone will just stop going out to eat? Lol, you might want to go back and study economics again. A little thing called supply and demand. The other restaurants(non-frog) will get that business and thus have to hire more folks. And low and behold, the money stays here instead of going to help the froggies who so enjoy stabbing Americans in the back.

[Fifth Business]

Like I said, boycott IMPORTED FRENCH products if you want, thats DIRECTLY aimed at FRANCE'S economy, not the USA's.

Well put. I'm not buying French wine right now, but I continue to drink it from my existing stock. Pouring it out would only hurt me, not them.

[Taxman]

True, but it was also a FRench restaurant!

Good riddance!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Like I said, boycott IMPORTED FRENCH products if you want, thats DIRECTLY aimed at FRANCE'S economy, not the USA's.

To what extent do you think that high-end French restaurants use IMPORTED FRENCH ingredients. Probably quite a few (wine, truffles, butter).

I, for one, am not boycotting French restaurants, I'm just not going because I have no desire to support or celebrate anything French.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

The French Restaurant in NYC is still an American business (I am assuming it is American owned) therefore why would I go out of my way to boycott it just because of its origins????? Like I said, boycott IMPORTED FRENCH products if you want, thats DIRECTLY aimed at FRANCE'S economy, not the USA's.

I'm not getting why this is a difficult for some to understand....

Then by all means allow me to explain. There are NO, Four Star French Restaurants, that do not use imported French wines and cheeses. NONE!