On Aug. 25, Union Square Hospitality Group’s Marta and Maialino—known as “Maialino (vicino)” since reopening in 2022—will cease operations at the Redbury New York Hotel in Manhattan’s Nomad neighborhood, according to a statement from the restaurant group. Both restaurants hold Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for their wine lists.
This decision follows an earlier announcement from the Redbury that it would temporarily close to guests. As part of a contract with New York City’s government, the hotel is joining about 100 others to house more than 90,000 asylum seekers (many sent to the city by governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas). In recent months, Union Square Hospitality Group founder Danny Meyer has advocated expediting work authorization for these asylum seekers, citing a labor shortage in the hospitality industry.
“While we admire and respect the Redbury’s decision, the viability of our business relies significantly on hotel-related food and beverage operations, including event venues and the lobby bar, spaces that are now unavailable for our use,” read a statement from Union Square Hospitality Group. “We remain fully supportive of the Redbury’s initiative and will continue advocating for policy change that expedites work permits for asylum seekers.”
[article-img-container][src=2023-08/tt_marta082423_1600.jpg] [credit= (Courtesy of Marta)] [alt= People dining at wooden tables in the dining room at Marta][end: article-img-container]Maialino, a trattoria and wine bar, opened at the hotel in October 2022, after closing and moving locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marta, a Roman-style pizzeria, opened in 2014 when the Redbury was still the Martha Washington Hotel; CIM, a real estate investment group, purchased the Martha Washington the following year and converted it into the Redbury in 2016.
Union Square Hospitality Group has not responded to questions regarding the future of the restaurants’ wine inventories, which collectively encompass about 10,000 bottles. However, the group did state that it would look for new positions at other USHG restaurants for all affected Maialino and Marta employees.—J.L.
Wine on Wheels Returning to New York City
[article-img-container][src=2023-08/tt_wineonwheelsb_1600.jpg] [credit= (Mikhail Lipyanskiy)] [alt= Wine pros at the 2019 Wine on Wheels gala][end: article-img-container]On Sept. 10, the Wine on Wheels charity event will return to New York City for the first time since 2019, following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Being held at City Winery at Pier 57 on Manhattan’s West Side, the tasting and live and silent auctions will bring together wine talent from more than 50 of the city’s most prominent restaurants and retailers. Their goal: to support those with disabilities by raising money and awareness for improving accessibility.
Wine on Wheels was founded by sommelier and disability advocate Yannick Benjamin, who also co-owns the groundbreaking, accessibly-designed restaurant Contento in East Harlem, as well as wine retailer Beaupierre Wines & Spirits in Hell’s Kitchen.
“I truly believe that this is the most exciting Wine on Wheels event that we will ever have,” Benjamin told Wine Spectator via email. “I am a born-and-raised New Yorker, and I am just so proud of this community that I am a part of.” Proceeds from ticket sales and auction bids will go to the Axis Project, a program from nonprofits Wheeling It Forward (founded by Benjamin) and Wheels of Progress (founded by George Gallego, managing partner at Contento) that offers programming, scholarships and resources to promote healthy, active lifestyles for those with disabilities.
Professionals representing many Wine Spectator Restaurant…
Source : https://www.winespectator.com/articles/turning-tables-union-square-hospitality-group-to-close-maialino-and-marta
