Cipriani S.A. is a privately owned international corporation based in Luxembourg that owns and operates luxury restaurants and clubs around the world including Harry's Bar in Venice and the Rainbow Room in New York City.
It traces its history to family patriarch Giuseppe Cipriani (1900-1980) [1] who founded Harry's Bar in Venice in 1931. Harry's Bar was founded after Cipriani was working at the Hotel Europa in Venice and loaned a customer Harry Pickering 10,000 lire (about US$5,000) in 1929 at the beginning of the Crash of 1929. Pickering paid him back 50,000 lire which Cipriani used to start the bar. Harry's Bar became a popular spot for celebrities like Ernest Hemingway and Humphrey Bogart. The fizzy drink Bellini and the food dish Carpaccio were reputed to have originated there.
Giuseppe's son Arrigo Cipriani (born 1932) is the majority owner. Arrigo is Italian for Harry. [2] His son Giuseppe Cipriani (born 1965) is the main business manager.
In 1958 the elder Cipriani built the Hotel Cipriani in Venice. In 1967 Cipriani Sr. sold rights to the Cipriani name trademark.[3]
However the family went international in 1985 under the Cipriani name when it opened a Harry's Bar branch in New York City in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel.[4] Within two years they were evicted from the hotel and opened the Cipriani Bellini bar nearby.[5] Eventually they would return to the hotel.
In 1997 the Ciprianis bought 55 Wall Street, noted for its huge ornate former First National Bank lobby. They sold it in 1999 and bought the Bowery Savings Bank building across from Grand Central -- again noted for its huge ornate lobby.[6] 55 Wall Street Cipriani's, Grand Central Cipriani's, and Cipriani Tribeca, were designed by Anthony Morali of Morali Architects.[7]
In 1999 they bought the Rainbow Room and extensively remodeled it and fired the members of Local 6 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union which picketed it.
In 2003 the company won a right from Hudson River Park board to develop Pier 57 into Leonardo's a luxury complex that included catering hall, shops, restaurants, a rooftop pool and a public park. Their principal competition was the Chelsea Piers which was just nort of Pier 57. After winning the bid Michael DiLeonardo, an associate of Peter Gotti, turned state's evidence against the accused mobster. In his testimony DiLeonardo said the Ciprianis had paid $120,000 to the Gambino crime family to make union problems at the Rainbow Room disappear. The charges were never confirmed. However the Ciprianis were successful in firing the union workers. In the wake of the battle he Ciprianis relinquished its rights to develop the pier.[8]
In 2004 they opened Cipriani London.
In 2006 in partnership with attorney Steven C. Witkoff they bought 55 Wall Street again.[9]
Arrigio and Giuseppe pled guilty in 2007 to misdemeanor tax evasion for defrauding $3.5 million in state and city taxes for six years beginning in 1998. They were placed on probation through 2011 and an independent auditor was assigned to monitor future payments.[10]
In 2007 and 2008 it had a bitter dispute with the landlord L&L Holdings Company headed by David W. Levinson of the International Toy Center over its ballroom in the lobby of the landmark building in the Flatiron District at 200 Fifth Avenue and 23rd. The Ciprianis ultimately agreed to pay $12 million and vacate the building by the end of January 2009.[11]
In December 2008 a London court ruled that Orient-Express Hotels (which owns the Hotel Cipriani) owns the Cipriani trademark that the family would have to either close its London restaurant or change its name. [12]
In January 2009 the Ciprianis announced plans to close the Rainbow Room in a dispute with 30 Rock owner Tishman Speyer Properties. Tishman in turn responded that it was evicting Ciprianis from the Rainbow Room.[13]
Properties
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- Harry's Bar (Venice)[14]
- Harry's Dolci (on Giudecca)[15]
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- Harry Cipriani Bar, 781 Fifth Avenue[16]
- 55 Wall Street (the family owns the building which now consists of a club[17], residence[18] and restaurant).[19]
- Cipriani 42nd Street (in the former Bowery Savings Bank at 110 East 42nd Street)[20]
- Cipriano Dolce in Grand Central Terminal[21]
- Rainbow Grill atop 30 Rockefeller Center[22] (closed June 2009)
- Cipriani 23rd Street (in the International Toy Center)[23] (closed January 2009)
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- Cipriani Beverly Hills (planned in 2010 in the former Tower Beverly Hills Hotel)[25]
- Cipriani Porto Cervo[26]
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- Cipriani Hong Kong [27]
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- Cipriani Ocean Beach and Club Residences (at the Saxony Hotel)[28]
References
- ^ Behind the Coup at Cipriani - New York Magazine - Oct 19, 1987
- ^ Behind the Coup at Cipriani - New York Magazine - Oct 19, 1987
- ^ Hit London restaurant told to drop Cipriani name - Reuters - Dec 10, 2008
- ^ Father and Son Restaurateurs in New York City Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion - New York Times - August 1, 2007
- ^ Behind the Coup at Cipriani - New York Magazine - Oct 19, 1987
- ^ Mr. Cipriani Takes His Name to Wall Street Condominiums - New York Times - February 26, 2006
- ^ [1]
- ^ Father and Son Restaurateurs in New York City Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion - New York Times - August 1, 2007
- ^ Mr. Cipriani Takes His Name to Wall Street Condominiums - New York Times - February 26, 2006
- ^ Father and Son Restaurateurs in New York City Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion - New York Times - August 1, 2007
- ^ http://www.nypost.com/seven/07012008/business/ciao_cipriani__lease_to_end_in_09_117984.htm CIAO CIPRIANI: LEASE TO END IN '09 - New York Post - July 1, 2008]
- ^ Hit London restaurant told to drop Cipriani name - Reuters - Dec 10, 2008
- ^ Rainbow Room’s Lease Terminated - New York Times - January 9, 2009
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/venice/restaurants/harrys-bar.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/venice/restaurants/harrys-dolci.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/new-york/restaurants/harry-cipriani.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/new-york/clubs/club-55.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/new-york/residences/cipriani-club-residences.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/new-york/restaurants/cipriani-wall-street.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/new-york/events/42nd-street.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/new-york/restaurants/dolci.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/new-york/restaurants/rainbow-grill.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/new-york/events/23rd-street.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/london.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/los-angeles.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/porto-cervo.php
- ^ http://www.cipriani.com/ciprianinew/locations/hong-kong.php
- ^ http://www.ciprianimiami.com/
External links
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