Last week the Cipriani Group announced the closure of the Rainbow Room's restaurant, and this week brings the news that the family-run company has lost its lease to operate the rest of the Rockefeller Center space. According to The New York Times, on Friday morning landlord Tishman Speyer Properties terminated the contract, claiming that the company owes millions in rent. However, the Cipriani Group argues that this move by its “uncompassionate and greedy landlord” is part of a plan to convert the venue into office space and prevent it from being designated as a landmark.
“Today, Tishman Speyer purported to serve Cipriani with a frivolous notice of termination of the lease for the historic Rainbow Room in retaliation for Cipriani’s victory in an arbitration concerning a rent dispute. Tishman Speyer attempted to charge an outrageous amount of rent that no tenant could afford, consistent with their campaign to force Cipriani out of the space, which would deprive more than 300 workers of their livelihood,” claimed a statement released by the Cipriani Group on Friday. “Cipriani will continue to operate the Rainbow Room as contemplated by the lease which by its terms expires in 2013.”
A spokesperson for Tishman Speyer told The Times that the real estate company intends to find another restaurateur to run the space.
