Commercial Real Estate & Advisory
Commercial Real Estate & Advisory
Restaurateur KwangHo Lee is bringing three Japanese fine dining restaurants to The Durst Organization’s Bank of America tower.
The three restaurants, which Lee refers to as One Bryant Park, will occupy a 10,000-square-foot, bi-level space on the ground floor and lower level of 135 W. 42nd St. Charlie Palmer Steak previously occupied the space. One Bryant Park is expected to open on Oct. 15.
“We didn’t create three restaurants to cover more ground,” KwangHo Lee said in an emailed statement. “We did it because our three chefs — Chikara Sono, Yoshihiko Kousaka, and Tadaaki Ishizaki — each had a distinct vision, and each deserved a room of their own. I can’t think of a better building or location for them. One Bryant Park has the architectural presence we wanted, and the commercial energy of the neighborhood to match.”
Chef Tadaaki Ishizaki is behind the restaurant, One Bryant Park, that features a 45-seat dining room and a 15-seat bar. Kumiko Room, which is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Yoshihiko Kousaka, offers a 14-seat sushi counter with 20 seats at adjacent tables while multi-course kaiseki restaurant Kappo Sono is led by chef Chikara Sono and features 10 seats and a menu that changes every two weeks in accordance with Japan’s 24-season calendar. Each restaurant will have its own defined kitchen facility.
Charlie Palmer Steak previously occupied the 10,000-square-foot space.
One Bryant Park’s lease is for 15 years with a five-year renewal option. A media representative for the restaurant declined to disclose the asking rent.
The Durst Organization, the landlord, was represented in house by Tom Bow, Rocco Romeo, and Nora Caliban. “The restaurant One Bryant Park is going to be as spectacular as the building One Bryant Park, and we are looking forward to what we are sure will be a multi-starred restaurant,” Douglas Durst, chairman of the Durst Organization, said in a statement through a representative.
One Bryant Park was represented by Sinvin Real Estate’s Christopher Owles.
“You are near all the major headquarters for offices,” Owles said. “The back-to-office has really been the most successful and the vacancy rate the smallest in the areas closest to the major transportation hubs and this certainly qualifies as that. And you have Times Square, which remains one of the busiest tourism hubs in the city.”
He added, “From what we were told during market research, there seems to be a lack of good fine dining Japanese food around here. Everyone felt that this was going to be well received in the market.”
One Bryant Park’s owner is also behind modern Japanese restaurant Momoya, which has locations in SoHo, Chelsea and the Upper West Side.