Mr Chow, the storied Chinese restaurant that has been on the corner of Hudson and N. Moore for two decades and in existence for nearly seven, is closing. Taking its place: Olio e Più, an Italian restaurant with three locations in the city. They are coming before Community Board 1’s Licensing Committee on May 13. (Thanks to F. and J. for the heads up.)

There had been rumors about Mr Chow closing for months, but when I asked around (and checked CB1 records, where the business had just renewed its license) it seemed all systems were go. Not true, clearly.

A notice to residents of the building from the applicant said that Olio e Più was first opened in 2010 by Emil Stefkov, who had a hospitality business in Macedonia before immigrating to the US in 2009. His first restaurant here was the Greenwich Avenue location in the Village; he opened at Bryant Park in 2025 and has a pending liquor license application for a spot in the East Village.

Stefkov also has a chain of French restaurants called Boucherie. There are four locations in the city; the first, in the West Village, opened in 2016. The Grand Boucherie stretches the entire block at 53rd and Sixth and he now has locations in Chicago, Miami and DC.

The 2500-square-foot first floor will have 120 seats at tables plus seven at the bar; the loading docks accommodate 52 outside; the cellar can accommodate 32 seats (though the note said it is 3100 square feet). They are asking for 11a to midnight Sunday to Thursday; 11a to 1a Friday and Saturday. Profosed hours for the loading dock outside are 11a to 11p Sunday to Thursday and 11a to midnight Friday and Saturday.

The restaurant chain *did* close its location at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in May 2025, which may have started some of the rumors? I also heard that their lease was not renewed.