The manager of famed Upper East Side restaurant Elaine's announced yesterday that it will close next week, six months after Elaine Kaufman's death. And that means the two buildings that were home to the restaurant, 1703-1705 Second Avenue, also owned by Kaufman, are up for sale. The price? $9.5 million.
Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter tells the Journal he's contemplating a purchase, along with Ken Aretsky of Aretsky's Patroon and Ken Friedman of the Spotted Pig and Breslin. And the building would be a good choice for an aspiring restauranteur, listing broker Anita Grossberg tells us, with the venting and other kitchen infrastructure already set up even if the rest of the restaurant needs a revamp. Also set up: tenants in all but one of the 16 residential units, with no plans to leave. (Available air rights leave the door open for changes down the road, however.) Right now the brokers are focused on weeding out "curiosity seekers" interested only in the Elaine's connection. Those folks might prefer Elaine's apartment anyway.
· Listing: 1703-1705 Second Avenue [Elliman]
· Elaine's Closing: Vanity Fair Editor Eyes Iconic Restaurant [WSJ]
· Elaine's coverage [Curbed]
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