Robert Skolnick, the developer who purchased the former site of Elaine’s restaurant at 1703-1705 Second Avenue on the Upper East Side last year, is planning to reinvent the restaurant as a hip supper spot, he told the New York Post.
“As great as Elaine’s was — I used to go there myself — it got old and tired,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to inject the space with some new vitality. As much as we love to pay homage to Elaine, the restaurant was run down and dilapidated, right down to the kitchen equipment. We will do a nice job demolishing and redoing the restaurant.”
The property, which includes 16 residential units above the restaurant and spans14,850 Square Feet Along Second Avenue between 89th and 90th streets, will be fully renovated, he added, keeping the rent-stabilized and market-rate tenants and demolishing the existing eatery. [Post]