Nobu Moving to FiDi

by | Feb 18, 2015 | Dining, Downtown Living, News, Uncategorized

Photo: courtesy of eatbigapple.com

Photo: courtesy of eatbigapple.com

Iconic Japanese restaurant Nobu is relocating its longtime flagship restaurant from Manhattan’s TriBeCa neighborhood down south to the Financial District. In 2017 the old AT&T building at 195 Broadway will welcome the elegant Asian eatery and its head chef Nobu Matsuhisa to the almost 15,000 square foot space. Co-owner Drew Nieporent says an offer from the developers of the Broadway building was a primary reason for the move.

“The developers of the site have a long history with us and Nobu. They presented us with an opportunity we couldn’t refuse”, he said.

Co-owned by Robert De Niro, the restaurant has signed a 15 year lease for the space in the building’s lobby, which recently underwent a $50 million renovation. The new space will be designed by the architect of Nobu’s original location, David Rockwell of the Rockwell  Group. It will provide additional square footage for the popular eatery, compared to its current 9000 square foot location at 105 Hudson Street, where it has been located since 1944. There will also be ample space for private events.

Photo: courtesy of thenypost.com.

Photo: courtesy of thenypost.com.

The presence of Nobu could help the high-end dining scene flourish in the area, which has seen heightened demand for exclusive eateries since high end companies such as Condé Nast have made downtown their home. The relocation of iconic restaurants such as Nobu to the Financial District provides a chance to establish the area as a fine dining neighborhood within Manhattan. Mr. Nieporent says he believes the neighborhood will embrace the dining experience offered at Nobu.

“We believe Nobu will bring a tremendously high quality and well respected dining establishment to the lower Manhattan area”, he said.

The restaurant and its casual neighboring offshoot eatery Nobu Next Door will continue serving their much loved Asian fusion dishes until the end of 2016. According to L&L Holdings, the manager and co-owner of 195 Broadway, Nobu is the first tenant to lease space in the newly updated building. The restaurant also has several locations across the country and globe, including its star-studded Malibu location.

– By Lizzie Crittenden

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