Loyal Customers Outraged by Rumors of Lure Shuttering

Some troubling news out of Soho: The Post hears a rumor that John McDonald and Josh Capon's power lunch destination/perpetual hot spot Lure Fishbar is in danger of closing this fall because of a steep rent hike. Word on the street is that landlord Peter Brant, who also owns Interview magazine, plans to increase the rent by an "exorbitant amount," and that proprietor John McDonald might be forced to close the restaurant when the lease is up due to the extreme rent spike.

Lure attracts a steady stream of tech young guns, media power players, fashion world personalities, moguls, politicians, and celebrities — the kind of people that read, write, and appear in Brant's magazine. McDonald has deep roots in the neighborhood, and his establishments are beloved by the people that live and work there. McDonald and Brant declined to comment on the rumors, but presumably, Brant's only motivation behind spiking the rent would be to get a business that is not a restaurant in this space. It would be a shame to lose that dining room — it's a modern classic.

As a response the gossip, loyal customers started a #savelurefishbar hashtag to show their solidarity with the restaurant. Here's a glimpse at the outrage from the various power players that dine there:

Don't let the ultimate NYC downtown media hotspot close! #SAVELUREFISHBAR

— whitney fishman (@whitneyfishman) May 20, 2013

I have way too much experience dealing with landlords to believe this will achieve much but... #SaveLureFishbar

— Shane Davis (@ShaneEvanDavis) May 20, 2013

Just got news of this... It had better not be true!! #SaveLureFishbar @lurefishbar

— Cody Pruitt (@CodyBespoke) May 20, 2013

#saveLurefishbar #saveLurefishbar please! I need oyster happy hour in my life. @lurefishbar

— Carolyn Renny (@_CRenny) May 20, 2013

Crazy New York rent hikes threatening to put @lurefishbar out of business. @nycmayorsoffice need to control this! #savelurefishbar

— Samo (@SamUKsays) May 20, 2013

Real opportunity here for Peter Brant to be a hero with the Internet/Media worlds of NYC. #SaveLureFishbar

— Brooke Hammerling (@brooke) May 20, 2013

@nickl @lurefishbar #SAVELUREFISHBAR It is our home. CRAZYPANTS.

— Brooke Hammerling (@brooke) May 20, 2013

We all need to #saveLurefishbar Soho will not be the same without that spot in that location! @lurefishbar

— Scott Lipps (@Scottlipps) May 20, 2013

i'd hate to have to cancel my @interviewmag subscription@lurefishbarbit.ly/10DC5aE#SaveLureFishBar

— erichad (@erichad) May 21, 2013

What would SoHo be w/o @lurefishbar at Prince & Mercer?! Read bit.ly/10DC5aE & tweet #SaveLureFishBar to show your love & support!

— Desiree Gruber (@desireegruber) May 20, 2013

· A&F takes hit on fat [NYP]
· All Coverage of Lure Fishbar [~ENY~]
[Krieger]