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Rainbow Room Grill to Close

In throes of recession, rent dispute, the Big Apple landmark will shutter its dining hall

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 4, 2009 4:54 PM CST

(Newser) – New York’s vaunted Rainbow Room will shut down its dining hall next week amid the recession and a rent conflict, the New York Daily News reports. With the Rainbow Grill’s closure, the tourist hotspot at 30 Rockefeller Plaza will—temporarily or otherwise—be 40 employees lighter and limited to a bar and banquet hall. "It's such a classic New York place," one fan laments.

Like most restaurants, the Rainbow Grill was facing tough financial times, a situation worsened by the landlord’s doubling of the rent to $8.7 million. "Due to the current economic crisis in New York and around the world, on top of an ongoing dispute with our landlord we have been forced to reevaluate our business decisions," an executive says.

[Images (4)]

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The Rainbow Room will close the Italian-themed Rainbow Grill restaurant temporarily, while keeping the establishment's bar, banquet space and dinner-dancing going. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett, File)

Giuseppe Cipriani, left, and his father Arrigo Cipriani owners of the city's venerable Rainbow Room and Cipriani restaurants, exits the Manhattan State Supreme court, Tuesday, July 31 , 2007. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)

The Rainbow Room is a New York landmark. (©meglet127)

About 40 people will lose their jobs when the Rainbow Grill closes. (©paul_irish)

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I've never gotten to go and have wanted to for a long time. That's sad. It's kind of an institution. - tourist Sabrina Macdonald

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Rainbow Room Grill to Close