Alan Young, partner in the Busy Chef/Blue Pig controversy has apparently passed away. No cause was given—the only information I have was a letter I received today telling me where to send my rent check (Alan Young was also my landlord) and that he had passed away April 5th. A search of the social security index, however, says that he died March 28th.
Tag Archives | alan young
Text of Alan Young’s disbarment
The full text of the disbarment of attorney Alan Young — who was a part-owner in the Busy Chef empire and scandal and listed on numerous liquor licenses — is available online here. Judges at the state’s appellate court, the Second Judicial Department, ruled on April 21 to accept Young’s resignation from the Brooklyn bar. Per the decision:
Busy Chef evicted at Henry St. corner
The storefronts in question (BHB/Sarah Portlock)
And, the eviction notices posted in the window (BHB/Sarah Portlock)
Eviction notices went up today at the former Busy Chef spot at 60 Henry St., at the corner of Cranberry Street. The four signs are addressed to “John or Jane Doe” and several shell names that the partners behind the Busy Chef empire have long used, including The Busy Chef Oven, Julia’s Blue Pig, Rue Henri Corp, and XYZ Corp.
Sweet news! New Sweet Melissa’s in Busy Chef Spot on Henry?
Sweet Melissa Patisserie in Cobble Hill (photo courtesy Murphy)
Sweet Melissa’s Patisserie may be moving into the neighborhood by early summer — and taking over the former Busy Chef and Blue Pig spots at 60 Henry St.
Owner Melissa Murphy told the Brooklyn Heights Blog today that she’s always wanted to open in Brooklyn Heights, and that she’s had her eye on that corner at Cranberry Street for a while. She’s even scouting potential investors to help her with the expansion, she said.
“We’re trying to see if something’s possible,” Murphy said. “We’re really acting as if it’s going to happen, and we’re hoping that the universe helps us figure it out.”
Busier chef! The Court Street site is rented!
Busy Chef at 111 Court St., taken earlier this month
The former Busy Chef hotspot at 111 Court St. has been rented to a new tenant, and looks like someone might be moving in shortly. Renovation and construction work has started, and building permits were issued on March 16.
But building owner Abe Gerges — who is also the King County acting administrative judge — would not disclose who signed the lease or what type of establishment it will be, saying only, “They will announce it when they are ready.”
The estimated $155,000 in renovations includes new walls, plumbing fixtures and a new mechanical system, according to Buildings Department records.
UPDATE: Gerges also adds that disgraced Busy Chef owner Alan Young will not be involved in the new enterprise. And also that the restaurant’s PR team won’t let Gerges talk about what’s coming, but a big announcement will come soon.
Continue Reading →
50 Henry Will Continue as Wine Bar from Owners of Henry’s End and Cranberry’s
Mark Lahm of Henry's End. Photo by gastrodamus via Flickr
BHB has confirmation that the space at 50 Henry Street will be a joint venture from the owners of Henry’s End (44 Henry Street) and Cranberry’s (48 Henry Street). The space will continue as a wine bar, and will also serve breakfast and lunch according to Mark Lahm at Henry’s End. The new place will be open for breakfast and lunch in late February 2009, but the wine bar won’t be open until the spring. Small plates (cheese, paté, creative salads) will be served at the wine bar for dinner. The overall idea of the new venture will be “casual, good food.”
Oh, and Alan Young, former owner of the “Busted Chef” businesses, will be totally uninvolved.
Busted Chef’s Apartment Ransacked
The Brooklyn Paper reports that “Busted Chef” Dan Kaufman’s Pierrepont Street apartment – which the paper writes he rents from Busy Chef owner Alan Young – had its locks changed and was ransacked this week. The paper’s calls to Young for comment went unanswered:
Brooklyn Paper: Busted Chef…: For the record, Brill said his client is innocent of the identity theft and credit card fraud charges, claiming instead that Kaufman was a scapegoat of larger crimes by Young and others.
The paper also steps up to the plate today and sheds light on Nasser “Nando” Ghorchian’s dealings with Alan Young and the Busy Chef related businesses.
Corner of Cranberry: What’s Next?
UPDATE: Sadly, it appears now that the Wine Bar at 50 Henry Street, the best by far of the lot, has closed, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.
With news that three four of the four “Corner of Cranberry” businesses have been shuttered (looks like the liquor license for the 60 Henry businesses expires tomorrow), we’re wondering what’s next for the seemingly accursed location. What will Ghorchian and Young, Brooklyn Heights’ very own wannabe Drew Nieporents and once rulers of what Gothamist called an “Empire of Feh”, launch next? A Cigar Bar? Bring back Food Maestro? We’re hoping the Wine Bar remains, since it is really a lovely place.
It’s worth noting that trouble seems to follow Mr. Ghorchian and Mr. Young’s ventures like a bad smell. In addition to the various “Corner of Cranberry” debacles, Mr. Ghorchian was involved with Mike’s Kosher Steakhouse, which closed shortly after Mikel Domgjoni was arrested for allegedly forcing himself on an 18-year-old waitress (whatever happened to that story?). They were both involved with failed enterprises at 111 Court Street before it was Busy Chef (Cafe 111, liquor license) and at 311Henry Street before it was Tazza (Cafe del Mar, liquor license). And Mr. Young was involved in a botched, complicated scheme to open casinos on land in upstate New York supposedly held by a Native American tribe not recognized by the federal government (Young was cleared of all charges).
We applaud their tenacity, but maybe it’s time to allow some new blood in the Heights food scene.
Note: According to the Alcohol, Beverage, and Control Laws, Article 8, Section 106:
Provisions governing licensees to sell at retail for consumption on the premises. 1. No retail license for on-premises consumption shall be granted for any premises, unless the applicant shall be the owner thereof, or shall be in possession of said premises under a lease, in writing, for a term not less than the license period except, however, that such license may thereafter be renewed without the requirement of a lease as herein provided.
Busted Chef Update: The Eagle Gets Into It
The Brooklyn Eagle finally posted their “Busted Chef” story:
Several employees spoke to the Eagle on condition of anonymity. One said that other employees may have been in on the scheme, and had been fired. He added that workers’ checks had bounced multiple times, although not recently.
According to the Eagle, Kaufman was merely a manager:
“He [Kaufman] was hired to get these restaurants into shape after they opened,” he said. He added that one of the reasons for the alleged credit-card fraud, in addition to personal gain, may have been to inflate sales figures.
The employee also said that “Kaufman was the manager, but he represented himself as the owner.”
However, that can’t be entirely true Continue Reading →
BHB One Year Ago: Curious, Aren’t You?
BHB March 19, 2007: The mysterious “partners” who own and operate Corner of Cranberry have fired their first salvo in the rebirth of the location formerly known as Spanish themed restaurant Aficionada.
On Sunday, BHB spotted a small sign in the papered-up windows of the restaurant begging the question to passersby “curious, aren’t you?” Read more
Update: Oven and Busy Chef are nearing their first anniversary, with BC opening another outlet soon on Court Street.
Eagle: Busy Chef Empire
The Brooklyn Eagle reports today on the planned 111 Court Street location of NoHe’s Busy Chef. The article mentions that during renovation of the store, workers uncovered many original architectural details. There’s also an outdoor patio, which begs the question is Busy Chef a fancy 7-11 or bistro?: Continue Reading →
CoC Redux?
While it’s still unclear what the relationship between the new ventures at the spot formerly known as “Corner of Cranberry” is, Brooklyn Enthusiast reports that the “chef” of Busy Chef is providing baked goods for new coffeehouse/performance venue Uncommon Grounds. Recently, BHB reported that the other new restaurant opening at the former CoC, Oven, was not affiliated with Busy Chef. But there’s still a connection between the three as Bitterwaitress founder/ manager of Uncommon Grounds Chris Fehlingher is associated with Oven. So, in essence all three businesses are related in their own complicated way. Hey, if that collusion results in yummy lattes, hardy guffaws and a nice glass of Pinot, we ain’t complaining.
Corner of Cranberry Replaces Website with Fortune Cookie Message
Yup, there it is — the new CornerofCranberry website. If we were normal and not the egocentric freaks that we are, we wouldn’t assume that this is directed at BHB. But we’re totally crackers and we’re convinced that the mysterious “partners” of CoC are taunting us. We think it’s cute in a kinda Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd Moonlighting way… except we promise not to make you listen to us sing.
Previously: The “Partners” Titillate Nabe
More Cranberry Marketing Magic?
You gotta hand it to the folks behind “Corner of Cranberry” if not for anything else but sheer tenacity. Today we noticed what is either routine site maintainence or a repositioning of Food Maestro as “Maestro” and the absence (closing?) of Aficionada.
Previously: At Least It’s Branded
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