NYC tycoon withdraws restaurants from converted hotel housing migrants.

Two iconic New York City restaurants, Maialino and Marta, owned by renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer,⁢ are sadly bidding farewell to their loyal patrons. The reason behind ​their closure?⁣ The​ hotel that housed ‍them has been transformed into a shelter for⁤ migrants.

Maialino and Marta have been cherished culinary destinations in Manhattan’s Redbury ⁤Hotel since 2022 and 2014, respectively. ⁢However, on August 25,​ these beloved⁤ establishments will serve their last meals as part of the Union Square Hospitality​ Group, Meyer’s company, makes the difficult decision ‌to shut them down.

The Redbury Hotel underwent⁣ a recent conversion into a shelter, accommodating approximately 100 families who have sought refuge within‍ its walls. ‍This move ⁣is part of the⁣ city government’s ‍ongoing efforts to provide for ​the 90,000 migrants ⁢who have arrived from the southern border⁤ since last spring.

The closure of ‌Maialino and Marta is‌ primarily attributed to the unavailability of event spaces and the ⁤hotel bar, which were vital to ⁤the restaurants’ operations. The Union Square Hospitality Group expressed its support for the hotel’s ‌initiative ⁢while acknowledging the impact on their own business.

“We remain fully supportive of the Redbury’s initiative and will continue advocating for policy change that ⁤expedites work permits for ⁤asylum⁤ seekers,” the group stated.

A spokesperson for Meyer’s group assured earlier this month that ⁣the plan to house migrants would not disrupt their ‌operations. ⁤”We look forward to ​welcoming‍ our‍ new ​neighbors and assisting‍ the hotel with⁣ this⁣ initiative,” said spokeswoman Katie ⁣Reisert.

Danny Meyer, the visionary behind Shake⁤ Shack ⁤and other renowned establishments, is a prominent donor to the Democratic Party,⁢ having generously contributed tens of thousands of dollars in ​recent years.

New York City has faced significant challenges in managing the influx‍ of migrants. Mayor Eric Adams’s office ⁤warned in a statement that New Yorkers may witness migrants sleeping on sidewalks. The⁣ administration has even distributed ⁢flyers at the⁢ southern border, urging ⁤migrants to consider alternative cities due‌ to the ⁢high⁢ cost of living in New York.

These struggles ‍come‌ as a surprise to some, as Adams had promised during his campaign that⁣ New ‍York would remain a sanctuary city. However, in January, he stated that the city had “no room” for migrants.