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Belle Reve will close at the end of this month
Belle Reve, the lively bar at 305 Church with a fiercely loyal following, will close on March 30 to make way for the conversion of its neighbor on Walker, which will include the Belle Reve site as well.
The bar opened in early 2015 on the former site of Los Americanos, Pane Panelle, Stuzzicheria and Province, founded by Billy Gilroy, who founded the West Village cocktail institution Employees Only, and Paul Gerard, of the clubby, exclusive Soho House. Gilroy brought with him the team’s fourth partner Vincent Vitek, head bartender at Employees Only. Gerard and Vitek were only involved for a couple of years; in the end it was owned by Gilroy and Patrick Fahey, who also own Macao Trading Company next door. It was operated by Lea Logan and Matthew Morris.
They had fans around the neighborhood and beyond, and a lot of character.
Their last day of service will be March 30.
“We are heartbroken to announce the closing of our Belle Reve,” their Instagram post said. “We tried to stall until the new owners of the corner had all their needed and necessary approvals, however a lock and lawsuit would be more than we could afford.”
Developers have put a proposal together for the corner of Walker and Church, incorporating the taxpayer that is Belle Reve, 32 Walker, into the L-shaped building that is 34 Walker and creating a new cast iron building. The Belle Reve building was sold in early February for $5.25 million, according to city tax records. The contract for 34 Walker has been signed, according to the listing; the last listed price was $15.9 million.
The Belle Reve building was built in 1954 — it is not protected by the Tribeca East Historic District that both buildings sit in. The Boltex Building was built in 1868 and purchased in 1966 by the Katz family, who ran a textile business out of there until just two years ago.
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It was Burrito Bar in 1999
from “Drugstore Photographs, Or, A Trip Along the Yangtze River,” 1999, by Dylan Stone
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/bc3bede1-920e-cebb-e040-e00a18064596
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/bc3bede1-91ec-cebb-e040-e00a18064596
I was never a fan of the food there. Like most TriBeCa restaurants these days, the food is egregiously priced whilst being terribly subpar. Bring back the pizzerias.
Tribecagoth – woman? Single?
Sad to see it go.
The site of many memories, margaritas, and dance parties with fellow denizens of the Tribeca Gallery District.
Looking forward to a final send off and, perhaps, some tears of mourning.
Sad!
What a huge loss for the neighborhood. Hands down the best bar in Tribeca and nothing else like it.
Know the band that played there a lot Strange Magik. Anyone remember what it was in 92 when I lived on Desbrosses? Veg resto maybe.
Exterminator Chili was the best resident of that space! Residential, Commercial or Industrial strength offerings every day. Pre-dates Burrito Bar … That said, love Belle Reve too and will miss it!
My only real memory of going to Belle Reve was during the middle-part of the pandemic, when safety protocols dictated showing one’s vaccination card and ID for entry. I did both, only to have the dude at the door emphatically assert that I was not the person pictured on my driver’s license (he was wrong, I was). This did not endear me to the place. Also, everyone stay calm — there are still plenty of great bars in TriBeCa. Everyone’s going to be fine.
Looking forward to seeing that atrocious outdoor dining shed taken down. For as experienced as the owners were they must be slobs because the outside of the bar is an absolutely filthy. Take some pride in your business and keep it clean and respect the neighborhood….well I guess that’s karma