Mayor Adams and Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue have announced that the city has selected Legends Hospitality as the new operator of Central Park’s Loeb Boathouse for a 10-year term.
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While the license agreement will need to go through the city’s Franchise & Concession Review Committee (a public hearing will take place on March 3), if approved, the iconic venue could reopen as soon as this summer.
As part of their agreement, Legends Hospitality has committed to a $3,250,000 capital investment plus a $250,000 investment for structural maintenance improvements. Legends is also planning a complete refresh of the menus, including collaborations with iconic chefs, and an overhaul of the boat rental program, with added credit card payment acceptance and an online booking system.
Legends Hospitality also has plans to renovate and expand public restrooms; to connect the upper and lower outdoor dining patios and upgrade patio service; to upgrade the building systems to be more efficient and sustainable; and to make improvements to the outdoor bar.
Legends Hospitality (a division of Legends) is a “a food, beverage, merchandise, retail, and stadium operations corporation serving entertainment venues and companies.” It was formed in 2008 as a “joint venture of Yankee Global Enterprises and Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.” The company operates at One World Observatory, Yankee Stadium, the Intrepid, Circle Line, and Oculus Beer Garden.
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“I’m happy that New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe will once again enjoy the restaurant and boating at this iconic spot,” said New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer. “Better still, the new operator agreed to retain the union workers at the Boathouse and preserve their contract, which is huge.”
“The Central Park Boathouse has been a landmark for generations of New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “When it closed last year, many worried about its future, but our administration moved quickly to keep this piece of New York City history alive. Thanks to the fast work of NYC Parks, we’ve selected a new operator so the Boathouse can come back better than ever, ensuring tourists and New Yorkers alike can enjoy this beautiful space and scenery once again.”
I’m very happy to hear that it will open again. I’m a little concerned about the hands it has fallen into, whether the Boat House will still feel like New York or like another stadium product. Only time . . . .
Why does ?billionaire Loeb get to keep his name on it when he couldn’t even keep it open?
Wonderful news (for a change)!
So the cost of a living wage is the rest of us eat hot dogs…