Restaurant giant Landry’s Inc., owned by Texas mega-billionaire Tilman Fertitta, is shopping for bankrupt Fireman Hospitality Group for $22 million — a deal that’s poised rescue the company’s three most iconic venues from latest business woes.
The buy, expected to close this week, will give Fertitta control of Manhattan’s high-volume Trattoria Dell’ Arte, Fiorello’s and Bond 45. The first two are across the road from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, respectively, while Bond 45 is on a West forty sixth Street block with three Broadway theaters.
The destiny of a half-dozen other Fireman properties stays up in the air, sources said. The ones in limbo are Paris Bar in the Le Meridien Central Park Hotel at 120 W. 57th St., along with its rooftop venue Le Jardin, plus Brooklyn Delicatessen, two Manhattan branches of Brooklyn Diner, and Fiorella Kitchen in the National Harbor in Maryland.
Tilman Fertitta, proprietor of the Golden Nugget on line casino in Las Vegas and the NBA’s Houston Rockets, is shopping for bankrupt Fireman Hospitality Group for $22 million. KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images
An insider speculated that the half-dozen other locations would either be closed by Landry’s or see their leases put up for sale.
“Fertitta only wanted Fireman’s top three places with great locations, which was why Landry’s original bid for the company was only $9 million,” a source advised The Post. “But the bankruptcy judge wouldn’t allow an offer for only part of the Fireman company,” the source said.
So Fertitta more than tripled his bid, in half because there were other contenders for the prize.
Among those vying for the company was former Fireman Hospitality CEO Ben Grossman, our source said. Grossman didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Fireman Hospitality owns Trattoria Dell’ Arte, which is across the road from Carnegie Hall.
Fireman filed for Chapter 11 chapter in August.
Several Fireman venues faltered after the Covid pandemic. The death at 93 of visionary company founder Shelly Fireman last October accelerated the downward spiral, which included almost $10 million in secured claims.
Thirty-year-old RedEye Grill, the “home of the famous dancing shrimp,” served its last meal in July.
Fertitta, proprietor of the Golden Nugget on line casino in Las Vegas and the NBA’s Houston Rockets, is quickly growing his hospitality business even as he tends to his duties as US ambassador to Italy.
Bond 45 on West forty sixth Street.
Fiorello’s is situated close to Lincoln Center
Landry’s owns standard restaurant manufacturers such as steakhouses Morton’s, Mastro’s, Del Frisco’s, and Strip House; Mexican cafe chain Dos Caminos; and sushi/seafood model Blue Fin. All have massive footprints in Manhattan.
Fertitta also owns half of New York’s Catch Group, which contains the high-profile Corner Store, The 86 and Do’resh, along historic Keen’s Steakhouse, which he purchased as an particular person investment.
The Post has sought remark from Landry’s.