International caterer Tentation Chabot & Potel has announced that it is closing its New York operations as of December 31. According to a statement issued by the company, the closing is largely due to the city's redevelopment plans for the western portion of 34th Street, especially the area making way for a new Number 7 subway station, which is to be erected in the location of Tentation's current offices.
"The various City and MTA efforts have been made under their authority of Eminent Domain," the statement said. "The legal challenges to this authority have been rejected by the courts. As a result, our landlord has sold the building which we have occupied for approximately seven years and into which we have invested countless hours and dollars. We had hoped to occupy the building through at least the duration of our lease, which has a stated expiration of 2017. However, given the efforts by the City and the MTA and the sale of the building by our landlord, this will not be possible."
While the company had been considering a merge with several local and international companies, including an unnamed company that recently purchased an 80-percent stake in Tentation's Parisian counterpart, all the deals fell through. Currently the New York office employs about 30 full-time employees, most of whom will be unemployed as of January 1. Managing partner Nicolas Daeppen hinted that he would be jumping to another big caterer in town, but due to confidentiality agreements, he can't comment until January. He did say that many of the New York staffers have been receiving job offers.
"The various City and MTA efforts have been made under their authority of Eminent Domain," the statement said. "The legal challenges to this authority have been rejected by the courts. As a result, our landlord has sold the building which we have occupied for approximately seven years and into which we have invested countless hours and dollars. We had hoped to occupy the building through at least the duration of our lease, which has a stated expiration of 2017. However, given the efforts by the City and the MTA and the sale of the building by our landlord, this will not be possible."
While the company had been considering a merge with several local and international companies, including an unnamed company that recently purchased an 80-percent stake in Tentation's Parisian counterpart, all the deals fell through. Currently the New York office employs about 30 full-time employees, most of whom will be unemployed as of January 1. Managing partner Nicolas Daeppen hinted that he would be jumping to another big caterer in town, but due to confidentiality agreements, he can't comment until January. He did say that many of the New York staffers have been receiving job offers.
