The tasty morsels keep coming from the kitchen of Larry Gagosian.
In an interview with Gallerist’s sister publication The Commercial Observer today, restaurant consultant Steven Kamali, who is working on the the dealer’s forthcoming space at 976 Madison Avenue, on the ground floor of the 980 Madison building, said that it could be a restaurant, and not simply a cafe, as Gallerist had previously reported.
“I can tell you we are consulting with the Gagosian Gallery, and we’re helping him curate a restaurant concept for their venue at 980 Madison Avenue,” Mr. Kamali told The CO. The only other detail he would reveal is that the project has applied for a liquor license from the local community board.
Meanwhile, Gallerist stopped by the Landmarks Preservation Commission last week for a look at what Mr. Gagosian and his architect Annabelle Selldorf have planned for their new space.
The plans call for minimal changes to the facade. A “GAGOSIAN” sign is attached above the window. The architect wants to expand and replace that window along with the adjoining doors.
This could create problems at the commission, according to a source, because Mr. Gagosian is proposing to remove historic details from the window and doors, which are original to the structure. The commission tends to look down on such changes.
Meanwhile, the space itself has been papered over with a possibly telling sign (pictured above) showing the spines of books of a number of Gagosian publications. There is one, however, that is not a book at all. It simply reads, “Fall 2012.”
Could this be an opening date for the restaurant cum gallery cum bookstore? We shall wait and see, as a Gagosian spokeswoman did not return a request for comment.
