Ground has been broken on the new Four Seasons restaurant at 280 Park Ave., and the eatery will open by Thanksgiving, owners Julian Niccolini and Alex von Bidder say.
Ousted by landlord Aby Rosen last year from their landmarked space in the Seagram Building, the restaurateurs have a crew building a kitchen and staircases in their new venue three blocks south on the west side of Park Avenue.
The new restaurant will have outdoor areas on both 48th and 49th streets.
Niccolini, with von Bidder, brought a hard hat with the Four Seasons logo Monday to the Friars Club, where his chef, Pecko Zantilaveevan, prepared a four-course meal for a crowd that included mayoral candidate Bo Dietl, movie producer Mike Tadross and former OTB chairman David Cornstein.
Westchester radio magnate William O’Shaughnessy, who introduced the duo, said: “Mr. Rosen may have appropriated the bricks and mortar, but the tradition, the history and the name itself goes with Alex and Julian. The heart and soul of the Four Seasons still resides with these two marvelous and beloved characters!”
Asked how they had managed to work together for 40 years, Niccolini shrugged and said, “Alex has a window office.” Von Bidder replied, “The window doesn’t open, so I can’t jump out.”
As for Rosen, who called the old Four Seasons “saggy and tired,” Niccolini was asked if he’d like to punch Rosen in the nose and replied with a smile, “Who is that?”
Rosen’s new tenant, Major Food Group (Carbone, Santina), will operate two restaurants at the Seagram site, a steakhouse called the Grill, and a Japanese seafood place, the Pool.