Gotham Bar And Grill Continues Its Comeback To The West Village

WEST VILLAGE, NY — The Gotham Bar and Grill might not be dead after all.

The trailblazing West Village restaurant closed its door in March after 36 years in the neighborhood — and while the eatery called the closure permanent at the time — the Gotham Bar and Grill is making moves to get back in business.

In the past few days, Bret Csencsitz — former general manager of the restaurant — filed an application with Community Board Two in Manhattan for a liquor license under the name Gotham Restaurants, LLC.

The liquor license application shows that the restaurant would have 47 tables, seat 156 patrons, and have an additional 18 bar seats.

There is a digital hearing set for Thursday about whether the application will get approved.

The reopening news comes after owners of the West Village joint told Eater New York in March that: "We have been forced to make the very difficult decision to close the Gotham after 36 wonderful years because the unforeseen situation created by the coronavirus has made the operation of the restaurant untenable."

Earlier in the summer, however, the New York Times reported that Csencsitz, who had worked at the West Village restaurant for 13 years, was negotiating with the four original partners of the joint to acquire the use of the Gotham name.

Csencsitz has now reportedly "acquired the rights to reopen Gotham Bar and Grill," according to Eater New York.

Csencsitz has also been negotiating with the landlord of the original Lower Manhattan space at 12 East 12th Street to bring back the restaurant at its 36-year home, according to the New York Times.

Gotham Bar and Grill had a tumultuous final couple year before the pandemic forced its doors shut.

The restaurant saw the departure of the renowned Alfred Portale, its chef for 34 years, and the arrival of his replacement, chef Victoria Blamey.

Portale received Michelin stars and three James Beard Awards during his time at Gotham Bar and Grill.

However, the restaurant was able to hold onto its three stars from the New York Times under Blamey's new menu.