Steve Croman to buy West Village literary landmark for $14M: report

Once popular with Jack Kerouac and the Beat poets, the century-old White Horse Tavern is changing hands again. And the man called the “Bernie Madoff of landlords” is reportedly among the buyers.

The building at 567 Hudson Street is in contract to a group of investors for $14 million, according to the Commercial Observer. It includes 17 apartments, mostly rent stabilized. One of the investors is Steve Croman, who recently finished an eight-month jail stint for tax and loan fraud and tenant harassment, according to the New York Post. The Post reported that if the deal closes as scheduled on April 9, Croman will have no involvement in operations.

Eytan Sugarman of Hunt and Fish Club NYC signed a 15-year lease on the building, under the condition that the bar is maintained as-is.

“Eytan Sugarman will run it exactly as it’s been for the past 140 years,” Meridian broker James Famularo told Commercial Observer.

David Schechtman, also a Meridian broker, denied rumors that Anthony Scaramucci was involved in the deal. Scaramucci is co-owner of Hunt & Fish Club at 125 West 44th Street.

The White Horse Tavern was founded in 1880, and was known for a literary crowd including poet Dylan Thomas.

Because of his criminal history, Croman’s rental buildings are managed by Michael Besen’s NYC Management. Croman is required to pay $8 million in restitution to rent-stabilized tenants he harassed. [CO] – Decca Muldowney