Due to the escalating costs of labor and supplies, the renowned Central Park Loeb Boathouse, known for its lakeside vistas, scrumptious meals, and rowboats, will close its doors, according to the restaurant’s owner.
On October 16, the historic restaurant and rowboat rental, which began in 1954, will close. At least 163 employees will lose their jobs.
According to NBC, operator Dean J. Poll, who had agreed to a 15-year license agreement with the Parks Department in 2017, cited rising labor and raw material expenses as the reason for the decision.
The move, according to a worker who asked to remain anonymous, comes after Poll’s failed attempt to renegotiate agreements with the union, New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council.
Since practically everyone in this establishment is a union member, the current owner was in negotiations with the union.
The employee stated that there was a problem with certain employees not believing it was fair.
In response to DailyMail.com’s inquiry, the Labor Department stated that it “can’t speculate on why this firm is closing.”
The boathouse, a New York City landmark, has also appeared in several films and television programs, including as “When Harry Met Sally,” “Manchurian Candidate,” “Three Men and a Little Lady,” and “Sex and the City.”
Since it was opened in 1954, The Loeb Boathouse has been one of the most well-known spots in Central Park and is frequently featured as a landmark in Hollywood movies.
Months after their initial breakup, Carrie and Mr. Big have lunch at the boathouse in the third season of “Sex and The City.
“Both Carrie and him tumble into the lake in Central Park when he leans in for a kiss.
Sarah Jessica Parker famously needed a tetanus shot after cutting her foot during the ordeal because she insisted against using a stunt double for the performance.
The television show “Person of Interest” also included a scene that used the boathouse.
To closely monitor a man they think kills women, investigators Reese and Shaw go undercover on a date at the restaurant in the third episode of the third season.
The main character Jane from the movie “27 Dresses,” played by Katherine Heigl, also meets her boss there for lunch.
The Loeb Boathouse has long been a favorite among couples searching for the ideal location for their wedding and has played host to numerous A-list occasions. It was common to see prominent New Yorkers dining there.
Due to a decline in visitation and the acceptance of large groups at the restaurant during the epidemic, the Loeb Boathouse struggled.
In October 2020, Poll made the decision to temporarily close the eatery; it reopened in March 2021.
With the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, Poll stated at the time that he sought to “renegotiate terms for the remainder of the remaining years of the license arrangement.”
Poll was paying the city an annual charge of up to $22 million, or up to $1.702 million, or 7.2 percent of gross annual receipts.
Additionally, the restaurateur had a 15-year concession arrangement with the Parks Department and spent about $2.9 million renovating the structure in 2018.
In Manhattan, Poll also owns Gallagher’s Steakhouse.
Calvert Vaux, a landscape architect, created the boathouse in 1872.
The building was a two-story Victorian timber boathouse that was 20 feet long and 12 feet tall.
The famous edifice was then demolished in favor of a simple timber structure in 1924, and it wasn’t repaired until the 1950s.
The eatery was given its current name in honor of banker and philanthropist Carl and Adeline Loeb, who paid $305,000 to have the earlier boathouse from the 1870s torn down and rebuilt in 1954.
For important occasions, both New Yorkers and visitors use the restaurant.
It is the only location in Manhattan with direct access to the lake and is well-known for its rowboats, which could be leased to explore the lake.