One of Houston’s most prominent restaurateurs, and recent Trump appointee, is looking to expand his East Coast portfolio … again. U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta and his company Fertitta Entertainment, the parent company of Landry’s, Inc., is potentially acquiring three of Fireman Hospitality Group’s restaurants in New York City out of bankruptcy.
According to court documents obtained by Chron, FHG Acquisition, LLC, an affiliate of Fertitta Entertainment, was selected as the successful bidder after an Oct. 5 auction. Its bid included $22.237 million in cash, and other consideration, for substantially all of Fireman Hospitality Group’s ongoing operations. The agreement was filed on Oct. 20 and sets Oct. 30 as the closing date, which is subject to court approval and other conditions.
Nation’s Restaurant News first reported the Fireman group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August, nearly one year after founder Sheldon Fireman’s death.
The agreement lists the hospitality group’s other concepts and locations, but Fertitta Entertainment’s winning bid does not mean that it acquired Fireman group or will operate the entire hospitality group. The Houston-based company is only buying the flagship locations of Café Fiorello, Trattoria Dell’Arte and Bond 45, all in New York, a Landry’s spokesperson told Chron. With the acquisition, the restaurants will remain open and continue operations as normal.
The other restaurants, Brooklyn Diner, Brooklyn Delicatessen, Paris Bar, Le Jardin and Cafe Paradiso, are going to Jeff Crivello of Ciao Hospitality Group, who was a co-bidder in the auction. Crivello told Chron that he also plans to keep the restaurants as they are.
When asked about the split of restaurants in the Fireman empire, Crivello said the three that Fertitta got were the ones he wanted.
The winning bid comes two months after Fertitta Entertainment announced plans to purchase Boston’s Union Oyster House, the oldest known operating restaurant in the country.