NYC tycoon withdraws restaurants from converted hotel housing migrants.
Two New York City Restaurants Close as Hotel Becomes Migrant Shelter
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Two iconic New York City restaurants, Maialino and Marta, owned by renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer, are sadly bidding farewell to their loyal patrons. The reason behind their closure? The hotel that housed them has been transformed into a shelter for migrants.
Maialino and Marta have been cherished culinary destinations in Manhattan’s Redbury Hotel since 2022 and 2014, respectively. However, on August 25, these beloved establishments will serve their last meals as part of the Union Square Hospitality Group, Meyer’s company, makes the difficult decision to shut them down.
The Redbury Hotel underwent a recent conversion into a shelter, accommodating approximately 100 families who have sought refuge within its walls. This move is part of the city government’s ongoing efforts to provide for the 90,000 migrants who have arrived from the southern border since last spring.
The closure of Maialino and Marta is primarily attributed to the unavailability of event spaces and the hotel bar, which were vital to the restaurants’ operations. The Union Square Hospitality Group expressed its support for the hotel’s initiative while acknowledging the impact on their own business.
“We remain fully supportive of the Redbury’s initiative and will continue advocating for policy change that expedites work permits for asylum seekers,” the group stated.
A spokesperson for Meyer’s group assured earlier this month that the plan to house migrants would not disrupt their operations. ”We look forward to welcoming our new neighbors and assisting the hotel with this initiative,” said spokeswoman Katie Reisert.
Danny Meyer, the visionary behind Shake Shack and other renowned establishments, is a prominent donor to the Democratic Party, having generously contributed tens of thousands of dollars in recent years.
New York City has faced significant challenges in managing the influx of migrants. Mayor Eric Adams’s office warned in a statement that New Yorkers may witness migrants sleeping on sidewalks. The administration has even distributed flyers at the southern border, urging migrants to consider alternative cities due to the high cost of living in New York.
These struggles come as a surprise to some, as Adams had promised during his campaign that New York would remain a sanctuary city. However, in January, he stated that the city had “no room” for migrants.
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