Frenchmen Find Spot in Soho for Their First U.S. Wine Bistro
By Lauren Elkies Schram February 8, 2016 5:15 pm
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Soho’s Lafayette Street will be home to a new French restaurant and wine bar, Commercial Observer has learned.
Troquet will open in 1,100 square feet through a 10-year lease at 161 Lafayette Street between Howard and Grand Streets. The asking rent was $16,000 per month, according to Bertwood Realty, which brokered the deal.
Le Troquet is the brainchild of three childhood friends from France: Thomas Olmedo, who started a transportation company in France, Clément Méry, who dwells in Asia working as an executive in the hospitality industry, and a silent partner.
The owners of French restaurant Parigot are retiring and will clear out of the 161 Lafayette Street space after 10 years to make way for Le Troquet. The new eatery will open early this summer and will showcase “wine events with winemakers from around the world,” said Bertwood Realty’s Bertrand de Soultrait, who along with Abe Bichoupan brokered the deal for the tenant and the landlord, 161 Lafayette Realty, LLC.
“We approached the owners of Parigot,” Mr. Bichoupan said in prepared remarks, “not knowing they were thinking about retiring, but recognizing that they had had a great run in the neighborhood [and noting] perhaps it was time for something fresh and new there. Our supposition was correct and we were able to negotiate a deal in less than 30 days that worked for all parties.”
The building at 161 Lafayette Street is five stories and 6,500 square feet. Tenants include one ground floor liquor licensed establishment, Baby Grand, and commercial loft tenants.
