Michel Richard Takes Manhattan with Multiple Concepts

Well, Michel Richard wasn't kidding when he said he was looking at New York for his next restaurant expansion. The New York Times has it that Richard will open some sort of concept in the New York Palace hotel, where the iconic Le Cirque was once housed.

Though details are fairly limited at this point, Richard is planning to take over multiple spaces within the hotel with different concepts. One will be a formal restaurant where Gilt currently operates; there will also be a bar, a more casual bistro and a pastry shop. High-end restaurant plus casual bistro? Sounds like the Citronelle vs. Central dynamic, but a spokeswoman for Richard clarifies that they'll be a bit different. "They are new concepts, but I'm sure we will see many of Michel's iconic preparations make an appearance," she said.

No word on when Gilt will close its doors, and there are no name for the restaurant concept(s) yet. Richard is hoping to get things open by summer 2013.

· Michel Richard To Move to Le Cirque's Old Home [NYT]
· All Previous Michel Richard Coverage [-EDC-]