It’s the end of an era.
Iconic overpriced Upper East Side spot Nello’s was closed on Thursday with a note from the New York City Marshal on its door stating the “landlord has legal possession of the premises.”
The swanky Madison Avenue spot’s owner, Thomas Makkos, apparently failed to pay around $5 million in back rent, a source tells , forcing an eviction.
Nello’s rep, Todd Shapiro, insisted, however, when reached for comment: “The number is not correct. There is a discrepancy in the amount.” He says they’re still negotiating with the landlord.
We hear that issues paying the rent have been going on for years, dating back before the COVID-19 pandemic that saw many NYC eateries struggling.
A source tells us Makkos had not paid rent since 2019. “He never paid a dime,” the source said. “It’s insane.”
The source added, “The courts were very friendly to renters during COVID. But that time is over.”
Staffers were spotted early Thursday after midnight moving furniture out, and the landlord, MBS Real Estate Group LLC’s Khedouri Ezair, got the keys back for the prime spot at 696 Madison Avenue in the morning, a source close to the situation tells us.
The restaurant also owed $240,996 to Con Edison. “How is that even allowed to happen? Why wasn’t the electricity shut off after a couple of months?” the source asked, showing us a copy of the bill.
Opened in 1992, the Italian joint was known as much for celebrity sightings as its infamous $275 pasta dishes.
Billionaires and bold face names dined there over the years, including an endless stream of celebrities like Mick Jagger, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Brad Pitt, Anne Hathaway, Paris Hilton, Robin Williams, Uma Thurman, Sting and Arnold Schwarzenegger to name a few.
Nello was also where Donald Trump famously wooed Melania prior to their marriage.
“They are still negotiating and they hope to reopen,”…
Read the full article here
