Only in Manhattan? Luxury condo owner files “class action” because unit doesn’t have a wine cooler

Across the city, residents sometimes have to tussle with landlords to make sure they are getting basic necessities like heat and hot water.

But at 565 Broome Street, a luxury development in Soho, one resident is fighting to make sure they get their state-of-the-art wine cooler.

Ayal Martin Hayes, who through an LLC bought the $3.6 million unit at the development, alleges in a new lawsuit that buyers-to-be were promised the specialty coolers, which were supposed to be integrated into at least some of the kitchens’ white oak cabinetry. Instead, the owner’s kitchen is missing the feature.

“This devalues the kitchen and the apartment; particularly to wine enthusiasts,” states the complaint, a class-action lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York County Supreme Court.

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for 565 Broome said the sponsor has provided “multiple options” to deal with the issue.

“This lawsuit, which is being filed by one person over not having a $2,200 wine cooler, is frivolous and completely without merit… We look forward to vigorously responding to this issue in court,” the spokesperson said.

Hayes couldn’t be reached for comment, and the plaintiff’s attorney, Joseph Colbert, did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment.

Hayes bought the 12th-floor, 1,447-square-foot pad in April. In advertisements and in the condo’s offering plan, some units, such as the owner’s two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath condo, were supposed to come equipped with the integrated wine coolers, the complaint says.

The complaint only lists the single owner as a plaintiff, but it was filed as a class-action lawsuit intended to cover any purchasers impacted by the lack of wine coolers.

Bizzi & Partners Development, Aronov Development and Halpern Real Estate Ventures developed the Renzo Piano-designed project, which is comprised of two glass towers standing 30 stories tall. The building’s amenities include a 55-foot indoor swimming pool, fitness center and spa.

Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick snapped up a $36.4 million penthouse at the property, and tennis star Novak Djokovic purchased two condos in the tower in 2017.