Elaine's to Close Six Months After Founder's Death

After months of saying all was fine and that the restaurant could continue without its namesake and famed proprietress, the new owner of the Upper East Side's Elaine's tells City Room that she will close down the iconic restaurant next week. Diane Becker, a longtime manager who inherited the restaurant when Elaine Kaufman passed away late last year explains, "The truth is, there is no Elaine’s without Elaine...The business is just not there without Elaine."

Many restaurateurs and bigwigs have, either recently or before Kaufman's death, shown interest in taking over the famed literary hangout. But that's no longer in the cards. Becker will soon put the two buildings she inherited from Kaufman—the restaurant occupies the ground floors of both—on the market soon. And thus, on May 26, will end 40 years of restaurant world history.

At least reporters can stop writing those 'Is it Elaine's Without Elaine?' pieces.
· Elaine’s to Close [City Room]
· All Coverage of Elaine's [~ENY~]
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