Regarding the Rumors at BLT Steak in White Plains: It’s Not Closing
I’ve heard through a number of grapevines rumors that BLT was closing, or that it was undergoing renovations. I spoke with Geoff Thompson of Thomspon & Bender, who represents the local outposts of BLT and the Ritz-Cartlon, and he gave me this Ritz-issued statement:
We are exploring options with third party operators regarding operations of BLT Steak which has been a highly successful restaurant since its opening. However, at this point no firm agreement has been reached and we continue to operate BLT as normal. There is no intention to close or renovate the restaurant.
What that means is that right now, the Ritz runs the day-to-day of BLT. The Ritz pays the staff and they have Ritz benefits. The Ritz has decided it no longer wants to do this, so it’s looking for someone else to take over. BLT will remain BLT.
“BLT is done very well from the moment it opened and it continues to do well,” Geoff told me . “But Ritz-Carlton is not going to be operating that restaurant.”
As far as people with reservations? “I don’t know how the dining public would notice any difference,” Geoff says. “The transition will be seamless.”
And they’ve promised to let me know when they do make that transition. I”ll pass it along.
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Lizzie,
Have they thought about changing the name to something that doesn’t remind you of a cheap deli sandwich?
Ms. Johnson,
If it was a sound concept and truly generating revenue,the Ritz would not be looking to back out,or liquidate,a lost cause.Rather than sell a losing business to another financier(sounds like the mortage industry huh?),they should just close it.
It sounds to me as though Laurent Tourondel is no longer affiliated with the restaurant and the Ritz Carlton’s agreement with him gives them the right to use the name for a period of time.
It also sounds to me that it will be less and less of a Tourondel style restaurant and they are now simply in a holding pattern till they find a new operator. Beware of the F&B Director trying to run a restaurant without a real restaurateur at the helm.
I can’t believe a new Operator will want to have the BLT stamp on his/her product if there is no affiliation.
The Ritz would not want to publicize any of this now because it could only hurt business. The only move they have is to say business is great! Its always been great! and the restaurant was and is still wonderful, so make a reservation and spend your money here…. Did you think a publicist would say business is not good, there was a falling out with Tourondel, and we are scrambling to find someone new because we are losing our shirts here? Not likely.
Just my opinion
Yes, I agree Michael S. In fact, yesterday (perhaps after I wrote this, but I can’t be sure), BLT filed a warn notice with the NYS Labor Department, giving a closing date of July 17.
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/app/warn/details.asp?id=2193
One of our editors discovered it, and we’re looking into it.
Thank You for sharing your knowledge.
Caroline… Interesting you bumped this to the top. when I went back to look at the Department of Labor warning notice posted in the comment above yours, I discovered this warning notice:
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/app/WARN/details.asp?id=2505
It says the Journal News is closing a plant and 166 people will be losing their jobs. I wonder if Liz is aware of this.
Thanks Michael. I am aware. Our publisher told us last week. They are planning on selling our building and they will be outsourcing our printing. We are very sad here at the paper.
Oh Liz,
Im very sorry to hear that.