The Shutter: Grayz Finally Admits Defeat

Midtown: This news is a long time coming: Crain's reports that the ownership of Grayz has finally admitted that founder and four star chef Gray Kunz is no longer involved in the restaurant. They plan to close Grayz at the end of the month:

"The restaurant's owner, Stephen Distler, plans to close the 15-month-old restaurant at the end of the year and reopen it in early 2009 as a new eatery called Gneiss (pronounced “nice”)...'This is an amicable separation,' says Mr. Distler...Grayz Executive Chef Martin Brock will continue as top toque at Gneiss..."

Things never looked that great for Grayz, but it seemed especially in trouble this summer when the restaurant closed for a major renovation as a last ditch attempt to attract clientele. As for Chef Kunz, who also closed Cafe Gray earlier this year, he plans to open a Cafe Gray in Asia and is "exploring opportunities to open more restaurants in Manhattan."
· Gray Kunz's restaurant Grayz fades to black [Crain's]
· Rumormongering: Developments in the Gray Kunz Universe [~E~]
· All Grayz Coverage [~E~]