Financial Woes

The End for Bankrupt Lucy Browne’s? (and the Beginning for Caffe’ Roast Bean)

Photo: Daniel Maurer

A stroll past Lucy Browne’s (the comfort-food reboot of the relocation of Steak Frites) found the restaurant dark yesterday evening. Its phone line is still active, but its website is down, and if a recent Crain’s item is any indicator, its future looks grim if it has one at all. The restaurant recently filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy (it owes between $100,000 to $500,000 to 50 creditors) and is fighting eviction proceedings from a landlord that’s demanding nearly $200,000. Meanwhile, there’s better news across the street. Caffe’ Roast Bean is offering a free 24-ounce coffee when it opens its latest location tomorrow at 1 Seventh Avenue South. The café menu is pretty standard (panini, hot and cold sandwiches, breakfast wraps and eggs, plus coffee and tea), but there’s also (cheap!) self-serve fro-yo.

The End for Bankrupt Lucy Browne’s? (and the Beginning for Caffe’