As the scrappy Times Square dive bar Jimmy’s Corner awaits a ruling in its fight against eviction in state court, its Durst Organization-affiliated landlord just closed a deal to sell the property off to another developer, property records show.
The landlord sold the bar’s three-story building to Ben-Josef Holdings for $5.4 million as part of a package of adjoining properties on the same block.
It’s so far unclear how this will affect the besieged bar’s effort to hold on to its lease until at least 2029. But it appears as though the move comes as part of a move to consolidate the properties around the bar’s building at 140 West 44th Street. Ben-Josef Holdings, a developer and investment firm focused on acquiring and developing mixed-use, residential, and hospitality projects, also purchased its neighboring building at 136 West 44th Street in the deal.
Adam Glenn, who inherited the bar from his father and its late founder James Glenn, said he has no intention of dropping his lawsuit to stop the termination of Jimmy’s lease until 2029. But the sale adds an element of uncertainty into the proceedings.
“A lot just depends on what this landlord chooses to do. My hope is that they want to work together and figure out a better resolution,” Glenn said. “Hopefully, they recognize that there is value to having Jimmy’s Corner on the block.”
The lawsuit first came about because, in late 2023, the Durst Organization decided to sell the building and attempted to cancel the bar’s lease through a “death clause” provision that was triggered by the passing of Glenn’s father.
Adam Glenn filed the lawsuit last year to stop the landlord’s invocation of the death clause, which was tied to racial discrimination against James Glenn, who was Black, and other Black patrons of the bar.
The landlord argued that the discrimination claims arising from the death clause, which was first signed in 2010, are barred by the statute of limitations.
Last year, Ben-Josef Holdings bought the parcel next door to 136 West 44th St., which contains the Chatwal hotel and Lambs Club Restaurant. Adam Glenn said that he hopes to sit down with the developer to get a sense of his plan for the property, but hasn’t been able to connect thus far. The developer’s lawyer did not respond to an inquiry by amNew York Law.
“Looking at what they acquired — I’m a realistic person — at some point they intended to build, right?” Glenn said, “I would love to talk to the buyer because… depending on what they’re building, maybe there is a home for Jimmy’s in whatever the new development is.”
The judge overseeing the case over the lease, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Nancy Bannon, has until mid-June to release her decision about whether to dismiss Glenn’s case.