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Timberlake's Bar Partner Eyes Tribeca for New Sports Bar
Restaurateur and nightclub owner Eytan Sugarman plans to open an as-yet-unnamed sports bar and restaurant at 6 Murray Street, the former home of the Roadhouse restaurant and bar. With pop icon Justin Timberlake, Sugarman currently co-owns Southern Hospitality, the Upper East Side BBQ eatery that feeds celebrities from country music star Carrie Underwood and actress Jessica Biel to Mets third baseman David Wright. Though Sugarman says Timberlake is not involved with this particular project—Sugarman’s fifth in Manhattan since 1999—he said his restaurants and bars do have a reputation for drawing big names. “Part of the appeal of my establishments is that we do have a fair amount of celebrities coming in,” said Sugarman. “That would probably be the case here too, but to a lesser degree than some of the other places.” Sugarman, speaking before a Community Board 1 committee this month, was requesting approval for a liquor license for the restaurant he hopes to open later this year. The new 1,400-square foot sports bar and restaurant, according to Sugarman, would be a bit toned down compared to his other past and present haunts. The former owner of posh nightclubs Suede on 23rd Street—another joint venture with Timberlake— and One 51 on East 50th Street, Sugarman said the bar would resemble “your typical New York City sports bar.” He said the food would be much like Southern Hospitality’s, the music more subdued and the atmosphere a bit less formal. “We’re going for a more laid back feel here,” Sugarman said. Sugarman’s lawyer, Bruno Gioffre, Jr., told committee members not to be wary of the establishment because his client’s restaurants tend to attract celebrities. "Cameron Diaz might come in with her friends, hang out for a while, get something to eat, and then leave," Gioffre said. "It's not like it's a big event every time something like that happens." CB1’s Financial District Committee voted its advisory approval of the license, despite misgivings about Sugarman’s insistence on the right to close at 4 a.m., the latest allowable closing hour for the city’s bars.
Love asked Sugarman during the meeting if he’d consider shortening his hours. Sugarman countered by saying that he intended to begin with a closing time around midnight, but wanted the right to stay open later. “If we find out that there’s enough business and enough demand, I’d prefer to have the ability to accommodate it,” Sugarman said. The restaurateur said he has never had a problem “with a single neighbor” and his lawyer also touted Sugarman’s history. “Go back and look at his record,” Gioffre said. “I’ve never once had to defend him in court.” According to State Liquor Authority spokesman William Crowley, Sugarman’s recod is nearly clean. The most serious infraction, in 2006, was in connection with a fight at the Suede club in Chelsea for which he was fined $2,500. Neighbors have yet to voice their opinions about the proposed sports bar. Told about the establishment by a reporter, one resident who lives with her 10-year-old daughter a few doors from the former Roadhouse, said she thought her block of Murray Street was congested enough with bars and restaurants “I don’t like it,” said the woman, who asked that her name not be used. “There are a lot of families living here, a lot of little kids. I think I’m against any more bars on this block.” The committee's vote of approval on the license was unofficial because there was no quorum. Member Bill Love said the committee will have to decide whether to finalize its vote before the full Community Board meeting July 29, or simply let the board vote on the application.
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