Flagship
hotel owned by local developer Ben-Josef
Group Holdings will replace the existing Chatwal on 44th Street in early 2027.
NEW YORK CITY – Bangkok-based Minor Hotels has made a big
move into New York City with a deal to bring London’s famed Wolseley brand to
the city with a 76-room hotel that will take over the existing Chatwal Hotel on
44th Street by early 2027.
The Wolseley Hotel New York will mark the brand’s first
hotel worldwide and also introduce The Wolseley restaurant and bar to the
United States.
Minor said the New York flagship establishes the foundation
for a selective and deliberate global rollout, with future properties planned in
major cities across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.
Ben-Josef Group Holdings (BJGH), a New York-based developer
and property owner, acquired the ground lease for this Midtown West hotel
for $53.2 million in October 2025 and is the developer of The
Wolseley. The property was previously part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt
and had faced foreclosure prior to the BJGH acquisition.
Aviv Laurence, CEO of BJGH, said, “Introducing The Wolseley
restaurant and bar to the United States through our New York flagship is a
defining moment. Together with Minor Hotels, we are creating a destination that
celebrates heritage, hospitality, and the enduring appeal of classic European
luxury.”
The hotel occupies the landmark building at 130 West 44th
Street, originally constructed in 1905 as the clubhouse for The Lambs Club.
At the heart of the property will be The Wolseley New York,
serving as the social center of the hotel. The restaurant will carry forward
the grand café tradition and polished European sensibility established by The
Wolseley Piccadilly, offering all-day dining, signature cocktails, and a
vibrant yet refined atmosphere, according to Minor.
Complementing the restaurant will be an intimate
cellar-level speakeasy bar along with a fully reimagined wellness and wellbeing
center that reflects the brand’s commitment to holistic luxury and guest
comfort.
Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International, parent
company of Minor Hotels, commented, “The launch of The Wolseley Hotels marks an
exciting new chapter for Minor Hotels. Inspired by the enduring success of The
Wolseley in London, our vision is to create hotels anchored in culinary
excellence, architectural character, and a genuine sense of occasion. The
Wolseley Hotel New York establishes our first flagship and sets the standard
for the brand’s global expansion.”
In early 2022, Minor International took control full of Corbin & King, original operators of London’s The Wolseley, by pushing it into administration and winning a bidding war, following legal disputes with Co-founder Jeremy King. Minor International initially took 74% of the Wolseley in 2017.