Michel Richard Sort of Says That Citronelle Won't Reopen

Tom Sietsema has an interview with chef Michel Richard today, which has some information about his upcoming Manhattan restaurant, and has the chef quoted as saying that Citronelle will not reopen as planned. Well, sort of. From the article:

While we had him on the phone, we had to ask about the status of the shuttered Michel Richard Citronelle in Georgetown. Were the rumors true that the four-star destination wouldn't reopen? "You're right," replied the chef. Certainly not in its original underground location in the Latham hotel, he added. Ever the tease, Richard offered slim hope for the restaurant's reappearance as he bid adieu on the phone. "Maybe next year?"

So definitely not in the old Georgetown spot, maybe eventually, but not likely anytime soon, if ever. The fine dining restaurant closed last July due to water damage. Richard tells the critic he is not, however, planning to relocate permanently to New York, where he is opening multiple concepts in the New York Palace hotel, including a 48-seat dining room he's calling "Citronelle, but lighter" and a bakery. He hasn't hired a chef for the project yet.
· Michel Richard on New York, His D.C. roots and the Future of Citronelle [WaPo]
· All Previous Michel Richard Coverage [-EDC-]