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.

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[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.