Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Moran's

It's been years since I've had a meal at Moran's on 10th Avenue in Chelsea. Every time I've gone by recently, I've thought, "I have to go back before it's gone." And then, "Oh, but Moran's will never go." I mean, it's been there since 1957. How can it just vanish?

By now, you'd think I'd know better.



ArtNews made this announcement on Monday:

"Moran’s, a Chelsea restaurant on Tenth Avenue where auction house specialists, Upper East Side gallery directors, and Lower East Side art dealers have all joined together at some point to eat french fries at the bar and snort cocaine in the not-at-all-inconspicuous-enough bathroom, has closed. The restaurant confirmed this on the phone Monday afternoon, saying its building was sold. The restaurant shut down last Thursday. 'The soul of Chelsea has officially died,' as one art world patron put it to me in an e-mail, I think earnestly."

But that's not the whole story.

I called Moran's in disbelief and was told they are, indeed, closed. But only temporarily. They're renovating and should reopen in 10 - 15 days.

This leaves us with a number of questions. Namely, will Moran's be the same old, unpretentious, cozy joint? Or will it become yet another high-end, High-Lined dining experience?

Update: A reader sent in this goodbye sign. New management. Moran's as we know it has vanished.




at

11 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 4, 2015 at 9:09 AM

    I had a good lunch there on a snowy day in Feb. 1995 with a friend who visited my office, which was then a few blocks away.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 4, 2015 at 10:10 AM

    It was already a pretty fancy joint by my lights. Old Skool, tho'.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DrBOPMarch 4, 2015 at 9:32 PM

    Hi Jeremiah......apologies for being off-topic here.....but if you're around, take a look at this webcam shot of Coney Island.......

    http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/coneyisland/?cam=coneyisland


    .....spooky light show......almost like you're seein' ride ghosts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownMarch 4, 2015 at 10:06 PM

    So do the new owners of the building are also new owners and operators the restaurant? And they are closing the restaurant for renovations?

    I looked at an apartment in that building back in the late 1980s or early 1990s -- can't remember exactly which time I moved that I looked there. Anyway, one of Moran's wait staff showed the apartment. It was more-or-less in my price range but incredibly overpriced for what they were offering.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tal HartsfeldMarch 5, 2015 at 2:20 PM

    Are they or are they not
    ...going to "sell out" to the current-day crop of "bigoted majority" civilian monarchs who somehow always manage to have more power-and-control over things than even the authorities themselves half the time?

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMarch 5, 2015 at 4:21 PM

    wow. crazy. sad.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownMarch 6, 2015 at 1:11 AM

    I think the family owns the building or at least they did. There is a back story there concerning the building. I remember going into the place with my Father when I was a kid, it was then a bucket of blood a longshoremans bar from the west side piers.I remember when it changed over to Morans the retired cop who owned the place really did not want anyone from the neighborhood in the place. Looking back and after all the changes he made I can't say I blamed him.

    ReplyDelete
  8. HotAlexFromTroyMarch 6, 2015 at 8:22 PM

    unpretentious Moran's will become pretentious moron's..let's hope not, but most likely

    ReplyDelete
  9. Barbara L. HansonMarch 9, 2015 at 9:52 AM

    Used to have a pint there before class at the Irish Arts Center. Sigh. A great joint.

    ReplyDelete
  10. tim bMarch 10, 2015 at 4:30 PM

    I've had so many lovely times here over the years. The food was basic pub fare - a little pricey, but not ridiculous - but the fireplaces! On really cold nights it was the cosiest place in the neighborhood.

    Bums. Me. Out.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousMarch 26, 2015 at 10:17 AM

    ate there a couple months ago..i walk by with my dog every day. had great food, great atmosphere. i won't be back.

    ReplyDelete

Comments will no longer be published. Too much spam, not enough time. Thank you.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.