The Trump Organization Is Suing Dean & DeLuca for $16 Million in Damages

Trump vs. Dean & DeLuca

The Trump Organization has sued financially moribund NYC grocer Dean & DeLuca for allegedly defaulting on its lease at the Trump Building (40 Wall Street), as Crain’s New York Business reports. The grocer signed a lease for the space in 2015, but in 2017, announced it would back out. Trump’s company — no stranger to legal action — wants more than $16 million in damages. But Dean & DeLuca hasn’t responded to the lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan federal court.

The grocer, which is owned by Thai real estate giant Pace Development, auctioned off supplies from its final New York City location last month. Its lease in the Trump Building was for at least $1.4 million in annual rent, but the company stopped making payments to the Trump Organization two years ago, according to the lawsuit. For Trump, that puts the shoe on the other foot: The business man is infamous for nonpayment of contractors, lawyers, et al.

David Chang is releasing memoir of his depression

A new memoir by chef David Chang will chronicle his struggle with depression, People reports. According to a blurb on Amazon, the book — called Eat a Peach — is “part memoir, part philosophical thesis, [in which] Chang lays bare his self-doubt and ruminates on mental health.” Last year on his podcast, the Momofuku chef opened up about his experience with depression and therapy. “I believe that depression affects Koreans a lot,” he said. “It’s something that, in the past, particularly in an Asian household, the idea that you could get help for this was insane.”

In other news

— After a restaurant sued Grubhub for charging for phone calls through its app and website, even when they didn’t result in sales, the New York City Council threatened to pass legislation on the matter, and now Grubhub is reviewing the policy.

— Expensive Hudson Yards wine-focused restaurant the Tavern by WS, from developer Kenneth A. Himmel and Wine Spectator publisher Marvin R. Shanken, opened yesterday.

— The Flushing Workers Center aims to pass what they call the SWEAT Act, a law that would would give unpaid restaurant workers more option for recourse besides wage theft lawsuits.

— Minetta Tavern has a new executive chef at the helm: Laurent Kalkotour, and he’s upping the Frenchness with dinner menu additions like escargots en croûte.

— Natural wine bar and restaurant LaLou has also changed chefs in Prospect Heights: Jay Wolman (Hart’s) is in, replacing Ashley Rath.

— It’s soup szn:

Disclosure: David Chang is producing shows for Hulu in partnership with Vox Media Studios, part of Eater’s parent company, Vox Media. No Eater staff member is involved in the production of those shows, and this does not impact coverage on Eater.