Food Network star Guy Fieri has opened his first New York City restaurant in the retail space at the former New York Times Building.
Africa-Israel USA and Five Mile Capital, the owners of the retail space in the building, announced the grand opening of the new restaurant concept in what formerly housed printing presses and loading bays on the ground floor.
Fieri’s American Kitchen and Bar joins existing tenants such as Discovery’s Times Square Exhibitions and Bowlmor LanesHa! Comedy Club and Jekyll & Hyde Café are slated to open in the coming months and will complete leasing on the West 44th Street side of the building.
Jon Bloostein, founder and CEO of the Heartland Brewery bar and restaurant chain, has collaborated with Fieri on Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar, which will occupy over 15,600 s/f spanning three floors with 500 seats and private dining spaces.
The menu, highlighting Fieri’s signature style from his television shows, books, and restaurants, includes items such as Beer and Honey Porchetta and Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto, as well as unique beers brewed locally by Heartland Brewery.
Tamir Kazaz, CEO for Africa-Israel USA, said, “We have been focused on food and entertainment uses for the space so it is a pleasure to welcome accomplished restaurateur Jon Bloostein and pop icon Guy Fieri to our building.”
Damien Stein, director of Asset Management for Africa-Israel USA added, “It’s a winning combination.”
RKF was the brokerage firm for Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar. CB Richard Ellis has been involved in the leasing of the commercial space in the Times Square Building since mid-2011, and will handle the next phase of retail leasing on the West 43rd Street side of the building. Gary Trock and Lon Rubackin, senior vice presidents of CBRE Retail Services Group, secured Ha! Comedy Club as the tenant for 3,250 s/f of space on the West 44th Street side of the building.
Said Trock, “Now that the West 44th Street side is fully occupied, we are swiftly getting to work on marketing an additional 37,000 s/f of prime retail space on the West 43rd Street side.”
