From a 19th-century sheepfold to one of America's highest-grossing restaurants
In short: Before it was a Manhattan landmark, this building was a simple sheepfold for Central Park's grazing animals. It now serves as proof of how New York's food scene has changed, previously being the nation's second-most profitable independent eatery.
The structure's origins date back to 1870, designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould to house the sheep that grazed in Sheep Meadow. It operated as a restaurant from 1934, following the eviction of the sheep by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. Over the decades, the establishment became a cultural hub, hosting figures from John Lennon to director-choreographer Bob Fosse. The building's architecture was originally based on a design by Jacob Wrey Mould. Its history is marked by significant changes, such as the addition of a glass-enclosed Crystal Room in 1976.
The restaurant's financial scale reached massive heights by 2007, generating $38 million in gross revenues from over 500,000 visitors. This achievement placed it as the second-highest-earning independent restaurant across the US, surpassed only by Tao Asian Bistro in Las Vegas. However, this prosperity was shadowed by legal and financial turbulence, including a $2.2 million settlement in 2008 regarding workplace discrimination. In 2003 and 2004, the establishment received a Best Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator for its wine list. It was also recognised by Where magazine as the premier dining destination on the Upper West Side.
A bitter legal battle erupted over the restaurant's identity after it closed in 2009 due to the Great Recession and the loss of its operating license. While the LeRoy family claimed ownership of the trademark, a 2010 ruling by Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum determined the City of New York held the rights. The restaurant eventually reopened in 2014 under new management, aiming for a more bucolic, 'old New York' atmosphere. The current owners secured their lease from the city without paying rent until 2019. This new iteration focuses on a more casual dining experience compared to its previous incarnations.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tavern on the Green
- Also: Wikidata — Tavern on the Green · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Tavern on the Green, New York City, October 1976 · CC0
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