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Zutto has taken the Argo space on Duane Park
Yvonne and Jason Metz, the owners of Zutto, the Japanese pub that has been on Hudson and Harrison for four decades, have taken the Argo space at 181 Duane. You will recall that this was once the Max space — they moved to West Broadway in 2018 — then the short-lived Nero Gato and the shorter-lived Serenata, then Argo, which opened in August 2022 and closed in January.
Their plan is to open an Asian fusion restaurant with a completely different menu than Zutto — it will include Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese food — and NOT Japanese.
The hope is to open around the middle of June.
I don’t need to tell anyone that this is a great addition, especially if they can pull off Zutto prices and specials. They go before the community board for their liquor license this month.
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i wonder why those spaces have a tough time except the bar at the end and the Ring Ding place; is it the concept? The location? Or is Tribeca a more spot driven destination for food and the locals dont hold places up, save for a few
Keep in mind that before covid, places stayed on Duane Park for decades. Max was in that spot (till the gas was shut off) for ages, and Tokyo Bay was next door for 20 years.
A lot of places are suffering such as duane Street patisserie as a result of Laughing Man drawing such huge crowds
There are so many food places/cafes/restaurants all over Manhattan and they are “cannibalizing” each other.
Plus the use of food delivery is now ubiquitous – so cafes/restaurants are also competing against food delivery.
Then there is the impact of social media/tourists.
Restaurant 1 with a big social media crowd gets tons of business while just a few yards away Restaurant 2, which is just as yummy and enjoyable but not getting the social media crowd, is emptier.
Food saturation is especially visual around the Seaport/Fulton Street etc. For example, on Beekman Street there are 3 coffee places within 2 blocks. Fulton Street is one chain food place after another. The Tin Building at the Seaport is struggling – not a huge surprise as there were already tons of places to eat right at the Seaport and the nearby blocks.
Exciting! I love Zutto and can’t wait to try their new concept!
Duane Park Patisserie/Ring Ding Bar has been able to stay on this fabulous block bc of many different revenue streams: corporate orders, catering orders , mail order, custom orders as well as retail.
not sure if Gandhi really said this or it was just a line in the movie “you’ll find there’s room for us all”
Duane Park Patisserie over Laughing Man always! No one will ever beat the flourless chocolate cake or lemon tart for all of our dessert needs as well as the magic cupcakes and ring dings. No competition. Looking forward to the amazing lava cakes at Taste of Tribeca. Correct me if I am wrong but I don’t remember a Laughing Man table at the event!
I hope they’ll have outdoor tables. That street is so good for outdoor dining.
Really looking forward to this.
The reason restaurants don’t survive at that location is because it’s too small – a bit claustrophobic in fact. Compare it to a beautiful space like Gigino, which has been in the neighborhood a long time. And Gigino’s food is simply wonderful.