French eatery Pastis plans to close amid building reno

Famed eatery and Meatpacking linchpin Pastis may be closing its doors in January. The French bistro at 9 Ninth Avenue, owned by Keith McNally of Balthazar and Schiller’s Liquor Bar, filed a Department of Labor notice Tuesday warning of the layoff of 200 employees — the restaurant’s entire staff — on January 1, 2014.

The reason for the layoffs is financial, according to the notice cited by Crain’s. A representative from Pastis did not return calls to Crain’s.

Aurora Capital Associates bought an interest in 9-11 Ninth Avenue late last year and has since been working with landlord Gottlieb Real Estate to renovate and expand the 45,000-square-foot property to more than 75,000 square feet of office and retail space. Joint venture partners on the project include architecture companies Wormser and Associates and BKSK Architects, along with landmark consulting firm Higgins & Quasebarth & Partners.

McNally and other potential tenants are in negotiations with Aurora to sign on for the new space, a real estate source told Crain’s. Representatives from Aurora declined to comment to Crain’s.

Earlier this year, McNally told food critic Gael Greene that Pastis would shut down for nine months in 2014, reopening in September. [Crain’s] — Julie Strickland