By Matt Chaban 10/16/12 11:33am

Making History

Let's celebrate. (GEI NY)

Rainbow Room Granted Landmarks Status, Paving Way for Restaurant’s Reopening

Despite concerns the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission might not grant the Rainbow Room landmarks status, having denied a request to do so only a few years ago, the commission did exactly that this morning, voting unanimously to add the historic eatery to the city’s list of interior landmarks, making it the 115th. Now Tishman Speyer and the as-yet unnamed restaurateur it has selected to reopen the restaurant atop Rockefeller Center can get on with the task—though any changes to the space would not have to pass muster with the commission. Read More

By Matt Chaban 9/12/12 10:50am

Making History

Dancing into history. (bilde/Angelfire)

Rainbow Room Gets Its Gold: Landlord Tishman Speyer Blesses Plan to Landmark Sky-High Club

One of the big questions surrounding the landmarking of the Rainbow Room was whether or not it would win the support of Tishman Speyer, the august real estate firm that owns Rockefeller Center, home to the famed dance hall and eatery. But the space is lucky as a leprechaun, as the Rainbow Room’s landlord came out in support of landmarking yesterday, according to Crain’s. Read More

By Matt Chaban 8/14/12 4:52pm

Making History

Ginger Rogers and Howard Hughes, two years after the Rainbow Room opened. (Getty)

Chasing the Rainbow Room: Landmarks Commission Considers Iconic Eatery

The Rainbow Room, like Tavern on the Green or Chumley’s, was one of those New York institutions no one ever visited, until it was gone, at which point the lamentations became unceasing. The fate of the restaurant atop Rockafeller Center remains a mystery, since it was abruptly closed by the Ciprianis three years ago amidst a rent dispute with another of New York’s august families, the Speyers, who control Rock Center.

Whoever takes over the famous (and famously garish) catering hall in the sky, one thing that is unlikely to change is the decor. Today, the Landmarks Preservation Commission decided to consider the two-story space on the 65th floor of 30 Rock for designation as an interior landmark, one 114 in the city. (Others include the Four Seasons, the New York Public Library and, just downstairs, Radio City Music Hall.) Read More

By Laura Kusisto 5/31/11 6:28pm

lease beat

Madoff Victims’ Counsel Renews in Rockefeller Center

Baker Hostetler has renewed 120,000 square feet at 45 Rockefeller Plaza.

As The Observer reported in March, the world’s 85th-largest law firm, which represented Bernie Madoff’s victims in their search for lost treasure, was negotiating to lock down a deal back then. The firm initially subleased 100,000 square feet on the ninth, 10th and Read More

By Jotham Sederstrom 3/15/11 6:44pm

lease beat

Lazard Takes More of 30 Rock

Already among Manhattan’s top tenants, in terms of space, Lazard, the financial advisory and asset management firm, has renewed its lease at Rockefeller Center, taking an additional 60,000 square feet. The 21-year renewal lease with Tishman Speyer for office space at 30 Rockefeller Plaza will bring the firm’s total square footage to a whopping 430,000 Read More

By Laura Kusisto 3/07/11 9:40pm

Prospective Tenants

Madoff Treasure Hunters Scavenging

Tishman Speyer and a major law firm are sharpening their skates for yet another high-stakes renewal duet at Rockefeller Center.

Baker Hostetler, the world’s 85th-largest law firm, which represented Bernie Madoff’s victims in their search for lost treasure, now occupies 100,000 square feet at 45 Rockefeller Plaza. But with its leases expiring Read More