Scott Conant Backs Out of the Cooper Square Hotel

In a move that should surprise few, Scott Conant is backing out of the Cooper Square Hotel on the Bowery and closing his restaurant there Faustina this coming Wednesday. We've heard for a few weeks that a change would come following the recent sale of the hotel to the owners of the Soho Grand, but now Conant confirms with a call to Flo Fab. He tells the Times that the new owners want a new concept—perhaps something American—and will have to come up with a new name as he owns rights to Faustina.

The restaurant had great potential, especially with Conant's successes with his Scarpetta chain, but had trouble taking off. It received a drubbing from many of New York's prominent critics and was often overlooked by the crowds due to its almost hidden nature in the back of the hotel. When the Soho Grand crew's new restaurant opens in the space next year, it will be the third to do so since May of 2009.

At the moment, Conant has no plans to reopen Faustina in another location.
· Scott Conant Says He’s Closing Faustina as the Cooper Square Hotel Changes Hands [DJ]
· All Coverage of Faustina [~ENY~]
· Cooper Square Hotel Getting Sold; Hotel Chelsea, Not Yet [Curbed NY]