4 weeks Ago By Quinn Mercer
The upscale Philippe Chow restaurant, known for its Beijing duck and celebrity sightings, is currently embroiled in a legal battle with its new landlord Extell Development Co. over an alleged overstayed lease and unpaid rent. According to a lawsuit filed by Extell and reported by Eater, the property developer is demanding payment for what it claims are missed rent payments amounting to $1.
4 million, which includes fines and attorney's fees, after acquiring the buildings for a total of $103 million with plans to put up a 37-story luxury apartment tower.The story unfolds as the Chinese eatery, situated at 33 East 60th Street, faces a $977,000 penalty for not vacating following the lease’s end, the demand is part of Extell's lawsuit which also alleges that the restaurant owes six months of back rent, roughly $390,000, and could incur additional charges the longer it stays yet despite the lease expiration and ongoing lawsuit, Philippe Chow had not announced an official closing date as per a New York Post inquiry, with reservation platforms Resy and OpenTable still showing availability for the restaurant indefinitely.Abraham Merchant, CEO of Merchant Hospitality, Philippe Chow's parent company, expressed optimism about the situation, saying in an emailed statement to Eater, "I am excited to report that Philippe Chow Upper East Side has secured a nearby location for relocation.
" Although a new address and official closing date haven't been revealed, Merchant assured that the original Philippe Chow on the Upper East Side "will be open this year" but had not provided specifics.Legal disputes are not unfamiliar for Philippe Chow, with past lawsuits involving wage and workplace violations and lengthy litigation with rival restaurant Mr. Chow over trademark issues, a battle that concluded with Mr.
Chow owing Philippe Chow $1.1 million in legal fees after six years in court and even as this latest legal tangle unfolds, Merchant has indicated a willingness to resolve the matter stating, “Regarding the litigation ..
. we are actively working toward a resolution,” in a conversation with Eater..
