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Posted by: MONEYMAN Jul 27 2007, 11:50 AMSo much for the loopholes |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Jul 27 2007, 06:59 PMAbbe, get ready to make that movie...start working on the screen play....based on true events....The Empire Comes Down.
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Posted by: abbe Jul 30 2007, 12:49 PMuhh yah. i have a few questions of my own. i meanit's not like i'm COMPLETELY one hundred percent ignorant as to what was going down up in that "empire" but i am a bit clueless as to the exact laws and whatnot. so what i really want to know is: - isn't lois-freedman essentially pretty much fucked now ?? as the Director or Operations, wouldn't she be the one directly responsible for all this ? wouldn't an army of knowledgeable sharkesque well-paid lawyers pretty much HAVE to recommend theEmpire distance itself from her as much as possible asap ?? -- does the Starwood contract come with some kind of an "image" clause ? wouldn't it kinda have to ?? call me crazy, but stealing from your own employees hardly constitutes a nice wholesome image, no ?? --- at what point does (or, does it ever?) "tip pilfering" become like, "embezzlement" or whatever ?? and/or like "grand larceny" maybe ?? totally confused on this one. ---- if we are talking EIGHT establishments here (not including the "pendings"), isn't this pretty much holding up a neon sign to the federal government LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME I GOT CA$H BITCH COME AND GET IT and uhh, if that's the case, wouldn't the IRS then come calling and crawling up your ass with a big tweezer and a mag lite ?? if so, i think that might hurt just a wee bit and my last and final question ------- given the fact i have an actual pay stub that blatantly exhibits my salary decrease PLUS TIPS EARNED effective the week following my official PROMOTION from hostess to maitre d' at 66 (which is all documented as well, natch) wouldn't that be a> rather incriminating (??) and thus b> totally fucking retarded ??? anyone ? anyone ? bueller ? |
Posted by: Inkslinger Jul 30 2007, 01:24 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Jul 30 2007, 12:49 PM) a. One would think so. b. We are talking about Lois Freedman here. |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Jul 30 2007, 02:56 PM
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Posted by: Ferret-n-Chicken! Jul 30 2007, 03:16 PMI don't feel sorry for them at all!!! Even though JG is a nice guy, the buck has to stop somewhere!!!! He knew that Lois was fucking everything up and he didn't care, even though they lost alot of really good employees who quit because Lois was such a bitch. I know for a fact that a few people complained to JG and even sent letters, but nothing was ever done about her!!! OMG, all you have to do is read Abbe's book (Oh wait, am I being too ass-kissy now??? ) to see how much she screwed everything up. I've never said this about anyone before, but I hope she does finally get fired like she deserves, and if all of JG's businesses suffer now, then that's just too fuckin' bad because they all deserve it for letting go so far!!! |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Jul 30 2007, 03:20 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Jul 30 2007, 12:49 PM) I'm pretty sure they can't use the "Floor Managers are Part of the Service Team" argument on this one. I could be wrong, but I would think Maitre D's are definitely not considered Floor staff, and therefore, work for the House. |
Posted by: Inkslinger Jul 30 2007, 03:43 PMQUOTE (Ferret-n-Chicken! @ Jul 30 2007, 03:16 PM) Why would you? They constantly showed all their employees (except for the ones that kissed Lois's ass) how much the staff just didn't matter. I'm not the type of person who wishes ill on other people, either. So, I'll just say I hope they finally get what they truly deserve. |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Jul 30 2007, 03:48 PMQUOTE (Inkslinger @ Jul 30 2007, 03:43 PM) Well, it's not going to help matters that it's such a widely reviled company. In the end, it will probably all boil down to how 'down and dirty' the staffers (and lawyers) want to get. If they decide that they want JG to suffer, he probably will. |
Posted by: MILFweed Jul 30 2007, 05:33 PMHas anyone else noticed how any hint of this story is conspicuously absent from The Post? Jean Georges must have Page Six Protection.
Apparently you are. Don't ever bring up Abbe's book again without a footnote specifying that there is a possibility it is not one of the decade's defining touchstones. Otherwise people might get offended that you liked it. |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Jul 30 2007, 05:50 PMThis is what happens when you play the loopholesI am sure their defense will include being within the law Managers don't have hire and fire capabilities Floor managers will be listed as captains etc Service teams working on a shift pay basis I think it's time to round up all the usual suspects I love this town |
Posted by: Inkslinger Jul 30 2007, 06:20 PMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Jul 30 2007, 05:50 PM)
QUOTE (MILFweed @ Jul 30 2007, 05:33 PM)
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Posted by: BX(Busboy Extraordinaire) Jul 30 2007, 06:34 PMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Jul 30 2007, 05:50 PM) When the staff from Mercer filed the same suit, didn't the company have to pay them??? |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Jul 30 2007, 08:17 PMIs this Lois?http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb261/PassionFoodie/Lois.jpg EDITED BY abbe: aack !! i had to take out the img tags-- sorry! i just cannot be looking at that every day. NEXT TIME TRY WARNING ME PLEASE i think i felt my heart palpitate |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Jul 30 2007, 08:25 PMQUOTE (Inkslinger @ Jul 30 2007, 06:25 PM) U say negative press? http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-nysher305313444jul30,0,4524268.column |
Posted by: abbe Jul 31 2007, 11:30 AMQUOTE (abbe @ Jul 31 2007, 11:28 AM) eehee heee ohmygoodness listen to me. i'm CRAZY. do i have a "mental anguish" suit in here somewheres ? what's the statute of limitations on this mutherfukker ? ahhahahhhahhahhhahahaaa |
Posted by: previousmaitred Jul 31 2007, 05:04 PMAbbe - you expressed my sentiments exactly about Lois hopefully being held accountable for this mess as she was the one managing the staff. Though I do feel sorta bad for JG - he was always gracious towards me and I have no complaints about the way I was treated by him personally. Lois is a whole different story. When I was there, she pulled some arbitrarily discriminatory shit with me that I could have sued over - but I didn't want to expend the time or energy to do so. I never even sent him a letter about her, but thinking back, I wish I did. |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Jul 31 2007, 05:12 PMHere you go Abbe................One for your collectionHer weight in duck fat!!!!!!!!! http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2005/11/03/style/tmagazine/20051103_ORIG_SLIDESHOW_2.html |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Jul 31 2007, 07:27 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Jul 30 2007, 08:17 PM)
Why should Jean-Georges Vongerichten get all the attention?!!! That's not fair....LOL |
Posted by: funfunfun Jul 31 2007, 08:51 PMhttp://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fbh/386397892.html |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Jul 31 2007, 09:59 PMI thought JG's brother was the manager there? |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Jul 31 2007, 10:11 PMPhillipe (his brother) is the GMThis ad is for a floor mgr.............I mean captain..........i mean service team member..........oh whatever |
Posted by: abbe Aug 1 2007, 10:55 AMQUOTE (previousmaitred @ Jul 31 2007, 05:04 PM)
QUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Jul 31 2007, 05:12 PM)
QUOTE (funfunfun @ Jul 31 2007, 08:51 PM) ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hahahahahahahaa TO BE DETERMINED is fucking right |
Posted by: CathyL Aug 1 2007, 02:26 PMJeez. Does the ad-placer not know it's Jean Georges restaurant, without the hyphen? |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Aug 1 2007, 07:42 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Jul 31 2007, 11:30 AM) I believe the statute is 3 years....(not for sure) |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Aug 2 2007, 12:37 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Jul 31 2007, 11:30 AM) Didn't you turn down the opening Maitre D' position at Matsuri? Was it due to the trauma you experienced at your last position, which, therefore, affected your livelihood? Sounds like a pretty good case to me. |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Aug 2 2007, 09:51 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Aug 1 2007, 10:55 AM) Why would he be all pussy about this after having to shell out 186K (Mercer) in a settlement last year? This woman must have something on JG. No one in their right mind would put at risk a business that he worked/works so hard to build. It don't make any sense. JG isn't seeing any of this money...the managers are. (Lois included?) Shit if he IS getting any of this tip money...that's jail time. Time for him to ditch the bitch! |
Posted by: BX(Busboy Extraordinaire) Aug 3 2007, 01:16 PMEveryone is always wondering the same thing, what does she have on him??? There have been a lot of rumors that I've heard over the years. They were together for 8 years but that JG always cheated on her???? She helped him with his green card???? They are legally married with no prenup??? She skims cash for him???? He does not want to be the tough guy???? There are sp many stories but no one ever knows for sure what;s going on because it doesn't make sense that even is all this is true, why would JG keep risking losing all his businesses like 66 and V which happened right after she became the DO. Even Spice is only doing well because of the location, they lost all the chefs and the floor staff turn over is high, and even Gray Kunz left right away. |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Aug 3 2007, 10:07 AMMore Lawsuit UPDATES.................Let no stone be unturned...........NOW ITS DREW!!!http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN0242707120070803?CFID=4020349&CFTOKEN=29103591 |
Posted by: abbe Aug 3 2007, 02:09 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Aug 2 2007, 09:51 PM) jean-georges is a Pisces you know i'm just sayin. |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Aug 3 2007, 07:34 PMNO dis respect to BX...good rumours....but this one ^ explains alot with very little...too layed back (or laid back) or both? |
Posted by: abbe Aug 6 2007, 12:38 PMas somebody whom, for some reason, is constantly surrounded by fucking Pisceseses (Piscii ?? -- moms, best friend, former boss, ex-fiancee, etc etc etc) |
Posted by: john.smith Aug 6 2007, 02:43 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Aug 6 2007, 12:38 PM)
QUOTE (BX(Busboy Extraordinaire) @ Aug 3 2007, 01:16 PM) classic dominatrix/submissive relationship?????????????? |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Aug 8 2007, 08:07 PMQUOTE (BX(Busboy Extraordinaire) @ Aug 3 2007, 01:16 PM) JG is with Marja Allen (PX this reference) her mother is with the government in some capacity. The President nominated her mom for something...and Marja was listed in the paper as Marja Vongerichten. So this I believe is legal. V Steakhouse..just sucked..period. Creatively, decor- oh just everything. Porterhouse is paying half the rent V paid. So they were getting screwed as well. I guess you can call this the culinary version of 69. Both screwing each other(ha ha). Well the truth has to pop up one day. |
Posted by: Bartender Aug 9 2007, 12:12 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Aug 8 2007, 08:07 PM) If PX ever becomes series on TV, this can be the mystery that needs to be solved. Like Lost. |
Posted by: abbe Aug 10 2007, 01:46 PMyes |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Aug 10 2007, 02:38 PM
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Posted by: abbe Aug 13 2007, 02:53 PMha ha haa yah we can even include last night's real-life "ripped from reality" scene in the screenplay !! |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Aug 13 2007, 03:03 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Aug 13 2007, 02:53 PM) That if Jean-George's wife reads this, you can explain to her how your Mercedes owner is (usually, when he's not 'preoccupied') just as good as her Mercedes owner? And, why it is you looked so stupid last night, smashing your face into his backside? |
Posted by: abbe Aug 13 2007, 03:05 PM
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Posted by: Ferret-n-Chicken! Aug 13 2007, 03:30 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Aug 13 2007, 02:53 PM) ha ha haa yah we can even include last night's real-life "ripped from reality" scene in the screenplay !!
You didn't say hello to him???? Why didn't you invite him to Centro or Gusto for better Italian food????? |
Posted by: ihatebunnies Aug 28 2007, 01:37 PMdoes anybody have any updated info about these jg suits? a former coworker of mine from perry st texted me this morning about meeting with a lawyer involved in one of these cases. depending on the outcome of their meeting, i may go talk to him myself. i worked there and at spice market and it made me sick every time i looked at our tip out sheets. |
Posted by: Inkslinger Aug 28 2007, 02:22 PMNo real updates, other than it's ongoing, but that's not surprising, since these cases usually are drawn out and take a very long time. |
Posted by: abbe Aug 29 2007, 11:58 AM
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Posted by: MONEYMAN Oct 8 2007, 05:52 PMJean-Georges's $40,000 Light Makes You Look Like a Million Bucks That's 5k per fixture..................are you kidding!! |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 8 2007, 08:28 PMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 8 2007, 08:33 PM) |
Posted by: abbe Oct 9 2007, 10:56 AMthis herve-whatsisname is the same guy who did the lighting fixtures at Centro too. ya know-- the ones adam-platt called the "chandeliers from a 60's photo shoot" |
Posted by: Dishwasher Oct 9 2007, 11:10 AMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 8 2007, 08:33 PM) I could be wrong, but I think it's $20K just for the computer that controls the time settings. |
Posted by: abbe Oct 9 2007, 11:14 AM
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Posted by: Dishwasher Oct 9 2007, 11:15 AMYeh, but it's another $80K to hire someone who's smart enough to remember to use the dimmer switch at the right times. |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Oct 9 2007, 11:51 AMAnd who pays for all this insane shit in the long run? |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Oct 9 2007, 01:35 PMDon't worry about it! If the customers can afford to put Jean George in a $6M condo, they can afford a piddly $40K on lights. |
Posted by: Jason Has-Binn Oct 9 2007, 02:00 PMQUOTE (Dick Johnson @ Oct 9 2007, 01:35 PM) don't forget the country house |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 10 2007, 11:15 AMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 9 2007, 11:51 AM) Actually, JG (the person) is vested (gets a percentage of total earnings) in the hotels he has restaurants in and also the Perry St condos (including 166 that is going up now). I don't believe for a second that the restaurants made him wealthy. He has places in many hotels/resorts. JG Management is benefiting from this and he can give himself quite the salary. The patrons will be paying the same for the food irregardless of what "insane shit" he puts in his eateries. So JGM with the kickbacks from the hotels would be paying for the lights, switches, fishtanks and any other funky things he has in mind. Now that JGM is under the Culinary Concepts of Jean-Georges umbrella, they should lose the front end responsibilities to Catterton Partners (another partner in CCOJG). This will ensure no more funny business with the paychecks allegedly by LF. This would be how CCOJG is going to influence JGM. JGM now should be back end operations only. That is one way to rid of Lois. (This shit on CCOJG is speculation on my part) By the way...New York City is always been about being different and funky. Why stop now? As long as the food meets the JGV standard I have grown to enjoy, I have no problems with his expensive accessories. |
Posted by: abbe Oct 22 2007, 02:18 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Oct 8 2007, 08:28 PM)
QUOTE IS THAT FUCKING FREAKY OR WHAT |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 22 2007, 09:00 PM
Yes, very freaky!! Spice Market was built from rubble from an earthquake in India...I guess not all materials can be free. But it's a 2 star joint..it is what it is...we are gonna pay the same price no matter what the shit costs. Besides...I don't believe everything I read..40K for lights at Jean Georges?....nah....1K for lights. 39K to the designer who suggested them... That is more New York.. Love me some Manhattan. |
Posted by: abbe Oct 23 2007, 02:23 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Oct 22 2007, 09:00 PM) excuse me miss thing but SpiceMarket is a THREE star restaurant. don't you remember ? ha ha ha ha ahaa |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 23 2007, 07:10 PMHow absentminded I am...I apologize |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Oct 23 2007, 08:55 PM
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Posted by: Inkslinger Oct 24 2007, 12:06 PMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 23 2007, 08:55 PM)
QUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 23 2007, 08:55 PM) It seems like they still do a good job of controlling it. In the midst of all of the lawsuits, Frank Bruni calls Lois on the phone, and all he can ask her about are the fishtanks? |
Posted by: abbe Oct 24 2007, 01:40 PMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 23 2007, 08:55 PM) on the one hand i do find it hard to believe a SpiceMarket will be successful in a W Hotel-- especially one in atlanta no less on the other hand, there's really no accounting for peoples' taste and/or perception. you know that when i was in korea i had a discussion with somebody about a potential juan-jorge deal for a big hotel in seoul. and i distinctly recall the guy with whom i was speaking said "koreans really like http://pxthis.invisionzone.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=107&view=findpost&p=1073..." (above all the ducasses and kellers and robuchons and whatnot, he meant) and so i asked "oh yah? and why is that exactly?" his response was: "i have no idea." i swear to gawd that was his answer and on THIS they are seriously considering a multimillion dollar venture ?? go figure. |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 24 2007, 02:48 PMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 23 2007, 08:55 PM) Ah, the good old days when the JGM machine could control it's own media.
Catterton Partners is one of the companies in the CCOJG company...they would be the odds on fav to run the front end operations. |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Oct 25 2007, 02:28 AMWrong again Passion breath!!!!!!!!! |
Posted by: ChefWife Oct 25 2007, 07:27 AMMoneyman, you so smart. |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 25 2007, 02:06 PMQUOTE (ChefWife @ Oct 25 2007, 07:27 AM)
Why is this the deal of a lifetime???? How much is it worth then????????? I would like a figure please Moneyman.
QUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 25 2007, 02:28 AM) Wrong again Passion breath!!!!!!!!! Shit! I will never get this crap straight! I wonder if Daniel Boulud's operation is easier to understand...(Dynex?) Thanks $$$ (No, I don't wan't to have your babies anymore) You sound like an attorney...ARE YOU? |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Oct 25 2007, 02:18 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Oct 25 2007, 02:06 PM) I knew it. It's always about the Money! |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Oct 29 2007, 10:00 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Oct 25 2007, 01:19 PM) Shit! I will never get this crap straight! I wonder if Daniel Boulud's operation is easier to understand...(Dynex?) That would be telling..................but you are wrong again Passion breath!!! The reason this is the biggest management deal of all time because most management deals are done one location at a time. This one was set up as a seperate concept development company forecasting some 50 proposed locations. The problem with this deal and the Hanson deal is neither of these restaurant groups have ever had to deal with public money and the demands of a private equity firm. Catterone Partners and Starwood Capital don't care about ego driven bullshit............only returns. A recent interview with Steve Hanson quotes him as saying how little he knew about big money firms like Starwood and that there was no doubt about Barry Stienlicht running the show. If these ego driven organizations think they can get away with tip skimming and employee abuse they are in for a shock. Public money can't afford scandals. (they fired the CEO of Starwood Hotels for harrasement) Time will tell if JG & BRG can make the transition into real "Branding" and big public money...........I wish them luck |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 29 2007, 10:57 PMOkay, how much would a restaurant have to pull in after expenses to satisfy the likes of big money firms like Starwood and equity firms like Catterone? Just use one place as an example...Spice Market in Atlanta...how much would that one have to pull in for it not to be deemed a failure and close. The SM in NYC pulled in 15 million last year BEFORE expenses. ( I don't remember wear I read that and I don't know how much it costs to run SM in NYC). This deal sounds like it involves more than just a Spice Market type of restaurant, it may well just succeed. Someone had to try it eh? |
Posted by: Dishwasher Oct 30 2007, 03:37 PMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Oct 29 2007, 10:00 PM) It'll be easier for BRG since their 'brand' was never quality-based anyway. BRG has always been about pleasing the masses, but one step up from The Reese Group. JG is a different story altogether, it'll be interesting to see whether or how much the quality of the product will be diluted. |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Oct 30 2007, 08:47 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Oct 29 2007, 09:57 PM) Okay, how much would a restaurant have to pull in after expenses to satisfy the likes of big money firms like Starwood and equity firms like Catterone? Just use one place as an example...Spice Market in Atlanta...how much would that one have to pull in for it not to be deemed a failure and close. The SM in NYC pulled in 15 million last year BEFORE expenses. ( I don't remember wear I read that and I don't know how much it costs to run SM in NYC). It's a matter of what expectations the equity firms have. Historiclly hotels use F&B as a lose leader.............they are about heads in beds or gambling if your in Vegas But recently they have involved themselves in these management deals with celebrity chefs and professional restaurant operators in order to turn these into income centers that produce a larger return for their real estae backers. The assumption being that the culinary name will attract more volume to the hotel. In addition the association with allow the restaurantuer to expand his brand. According to RI magazine's Top 100 Independents 2006, Spice Market is generating 13 million at the NYC location...it did 15 million when it first opened and has now leveled off due to the surrounding competition. If the proposed Allanta location has an expectation of the same revenue volume as in NY.........they will be disappointed IMHO I don't think this concept will translate in GA. Don't get me wrong I hope it does well. (It should do about 5-6 million) There is also the issue of culinary talent available to reproduce the consistancy needed at a Spice Market........this might be a real issue This is a management deal, JG's management team is already strained and the last 1.5 years has probably been spent training Starwood's management team in running a Spice Market As far as the partnership goes...............Great idea.............glad I thought of it |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 31 2007, 12:00 AMOkay, I am going out on a limb here... I think his business with all partnerships, consultations, etc, etc=worth about 68 million- this is based on just the places he has open now= 17 at an average of 4 million a piece.Now with the CCbJG 54- places at 5 million= 270 million. It could go to 70+ restaurants. I am thinking he will lose about 1 place every 7 he opens. $$$Man- your thoughts? (Place your bets.... ) |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Oct 31 2007, 12:18 AMIt will never get that high if the concepts he creates for the partnership don't meet the return on investment expected by the investors. |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Oct 31 2007, 10:46 AMReturn on investment? Is that the stock worth of Starwood? Another words if the stock is worth 60.00 a share now, it better be worth 100.00 or a percentage higher after some places open? Am I getting warm here? |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Oct 31 2007, 08:31 PMPassion..........you are absolutley right |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Nov 1 2007, 07:00 AMSo eventually, Lois will report to someone else instead of JG? (Okay you poor abuse staff, your help is on the way )
$$$Man. How about this one: |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Nov 2 2007, 11:13 AMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Nov 2 2007, 03:39 AM) $$$Man. How about this one: Dune is not at The Atlantis; it's at Ocean Club. |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Nov 2 2007, 11:48 AMYeah, if I read right, KERZNER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED owns that one too. (U can tell where I haven't been yet) <sigh> |
Posted by: abbe Nov 9 2007, 12:12 PMyah so here's the skinny from istanbulapparently a SpiceMarket is opening in the new W in construction now. don't know when proposed opening is, since the building is evidently "landmark" so they cannot tear it down and rebuild, but have to reinforce and facelift etc etc speculation seems to be W is going to have to "step it up" (like the one in seoul,korea-- BEAUTIFUL) because a brand new FourSeasons is opening soon too. there is already a smaller FourSeasons in istanbool, in an old prison that was converted. the current one is small but has the advantage of being close to (and overlooking) ayasofya ("Hagia Sofia"). the new one will be close by. i gather too the SpiceMarket might do well because "all the people who dine there will have already visited the one in new york... so they will have smelled the hype" that's an exact quote. also there is a new ordinance stating no area WITHIN THE SIGHTLINE (!! ? !!) of the Bosphorus will be issued any building licenses whatsoever !! so anything that already exists near the waterway will be slammin. there ya have it |
Posted by: abbe Nov 9 2007, 12:23 PMoh and it seems istanbool is really embracing "foreign" cuisines these days by the way. i visited a newish pasta/salad/pizza/american joint (about 100 items on the menu) called Masa (how funny is that) and the place was packed. granted it's located at the center of the big new shiny high end mall (gucci and fendi and louis. oh my) but still. it didn't seem there was whole lot of shopping going on but they sure were stuffing their faces all right. |
Posted by: Dishwasher Nov 9 2007, 01:19 PMIstanbul is definitely ripe for this type development. I visited the city several years back, and back then it seemed like the progression was slow but steady. Now I understand they have Starbucks on every corner.... |
Posted by: john.smith Nov 12 2007, 12:45 PMQUOTE (abbe @ Nov 9 2007, 11:12 AM) hype is the number one key ingredient................................. |
Posted by: abbe Nov 12 2007, 01:40 PMQUOTE (PassionFoodie @ Nov 2 2007, 02:39 AM) was it really ??? i visited Dune in 2004 and i was under the distinct impression it had ben open for a while already. i remember too in 2000 juan-jorge said to me personally one night at Mercer he'd just returned from "seeing the place in the bahamas" he was telling me how beautiful it is. or hmm maybe that was mid-construction ?? did Dune take four years to build ?? i find that hard to believe. |
Posted by: Dick Johnson Nov 12 2007, 02:22 PMQUOTE (john.smith @ Nov 12 2007, 11:45 AM) It works here in NY! I bet enough time has passed that the putrid stench of the V Steakhouse and 66 deaths have passed; JG could probably open another place here in NY and it would still pack them in. For the first 3 months, anyway. |
Posted by: MONEYMAN Nov 12 2007, 11:58 PMSorry I was away so long................investor meeting in Asia
I LOVE THIS TOWN!!!................So glad to be back! |
Posted by: Dishwasher Nov 13 2007, 02:15 PMI guess the problem is that 'Spice Market' isn't a trademarkable name because all spice markets around the world (Marrakesh fro example are called.... well.... 'spice markets'. And who's to say which one is the real Spice Market?? |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Nov 14 2007, 12:17 AMQUOTE (MONEYMAN @ Nov 12 2007, 10:58 PM) Sorry I was away so long................investor meeting in AsiaMe - a long awaited short vacation to Bermuda. The funny thing is Spice Market is now everywhere!!! Check out the Sheraton hotel listings........Starwood is using the name all over the place (Sydney, Bangkok, New York) In Vegas they now have a Spice Market Buffet.......(Planet Hollywood) This doesn't suprise me...I read the contract called for 56 to 70 something places in the next 5 years. Poor Mrs. V. She ain't never gonna see him. It appears that the W brand has been selected to piggyback JG concepts (hipper lifestyle clients) Richer too. You mean Starwood is opening hotels around CCBJG???!!! HOLY SHIT-IF that is the case..how does JG sleep at night. Sheesh that is a lot of pressure. And Passion, both properties in the Bahamas are management deals........no public stock. Thank you $$$ man. I LOVE THIS TOWN!!!................So glad to be back Me too. Lovin me some NYC... |
Posted by: Inkslinger Nov 14 2007, 11:52 AMQUOTE No, I think what Moneyman is trying to say is that there are "Spice Market"s all over the place, but not all of them are JG's. Sheraton is not a JG company and neither is Planet Hollywod. Just because there's a Spice Market in NY doesn't mean that someone else can't open a Spice somewhere else. I don't know how trademarks work, because I'm sure there aren't other Benihanas around the world e.g. but maybe Dishwasher is right, and the words "spice market" can't be trademarked???? |
Posted by: ChefWife Nov 14 2007, 09:43 PM"I read the contract called for 56 to 70 something places in the next 5 years. Poor Mrs. V. She ain't never gonna see him."Yes, some sympathy for the wives. We put up with a lot. Not that I've got all the same issues as Mrs. V, but still a lonely night is a lonely night. (with or without the moo-la) |
Posted by: BX(Busboy Extraordinaire) Nov 15 2007, 12:29 PMI would think that she would have figured that out before she married him |
Posted by: ChefWife Nov 16 2007, 07:17 PMtrue. she may have known-but no one REALLY knows until they're too deep to get out. |
Posted by: BX(Busboy Extraordinaire) Nov 17 2007, 03:53 PMBut like passion said they lived together for 3 years. |
Posted by: ChefWife Nov 17 2007, 08:28 PMfine. she knew. |
Posted by: PassionFoodie Nov 18 2007, 01:29 PMUnder the circumstances, I would believe that as hard it may be to live with a chef and his/her hours, etc...it would seem to me that the millionaire version of chef wives would have more options available to them, like nannies, babysitters, and can travel with their chef spouses from time to time and not be under the same confinements as most others. In my opinion, I think these are volunteer choices more than forced ones. Also, Mr. V can take his nice vacations with his family more often, more exotic places...etc. The less gainfully employed may not have those options. |
Posted by: ChefWife Nov 18 2007, 04:50 PMPassion you hit it. Smart lady. |
Posted by: ihatebunnies Aug 4 2008, 11:17 PMi heard the class action lawsuit was settled recently. can anyone confirm that? EDITED by ADMIN |
Posted by: MILFweed Aug 5 2008, 11:46 AMQUOTE (ihatebunnies @ Aug 4 2008, 11:17 PM) I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that almost all settlements require that the plaintiffs keep quiet about the deals of the seeltement. So if there are indeed any people here that benefitted from the lawsuit they wouldn't be able to discuss it. If someone here were to spill the details of the settlement then the defendants would have the right to subpoena the IP addresses from this website. |
Posted by: Inkslinger Aug 5 2008, 12:16 PMEveryone, sshhhh! |
Posted by: ihatebunnies Aug 5 2008, 02:45 PMyeah. for real. i don't wanna get anyone in trouble. |
Posted by: whats anorexia? Aug 5 2008, 12:29 PMLawsuits Brought Against Bouley, BondSt, and BLT EmpireMaimon Kirschenbaum, the lawyer who previously brought wage-law cases against Heartland Brewery, Balthazar, Jean Georges, and B.B. King Blues Club, tells us that in recent weeks he has brought others against Bouley, BondSt, Abigail Kirsch, One Little W 12, and the BLT empire. (Someones having a busy summer!) Kirschenbaum tells us the BLT case which so far involves four waiters at BLT Steak, two at BLT Prime, and one at BLT Fish is one of the most egregious examples of wage skimming hes seen, with waiters working up to 60 hours a week without receiving overtime... http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/08/lawsuits_brought_against_boule.html |
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