The Shutter: Ciprianis to Close Rainbow Room Restaurant Next Week

News came over the wire this weekend of the imminent shutter of a New York icon and, thus, more trouble for the Cipriani family. On January 12, the famed Rainbow Room's restaurant, the Rainbow Grill, will close. Recently, the family sought landmark status for the restaurant and was known to be in a bitter lease dispute with the building's owner Tishman Speyer. The operators have cited both those lease woes and the lagging economy for the closure:

"'It's a very difficult decision to make, given the sort of status of the Rainbow Room as one of these quote-unquote New York City icons,' said Ben Branham, a spokesman for the operators...'The move is made, definitely, as one of protecting the venue.' He said it was unclear how long the restaurant would be closed...About 30 to 40 of the Rainbow Room's 120 workers would lose their jobs..."

The bar area and the banquet hall will remain open for special events and dinner and dancing.
· Rainbow Room to close restaurant, citing economy [AP]
· Ciprianis Seeking Landmark Status for Rainbow Room [~E~]


Source: eater.com