[NYguy]

https://nypost.com/2025/03/28/us-new...d-suit-claims/

Trendy NYC Chinese eatery Philippe Chow owes nearly $1M to UES landlord, suit claims





By Peter Senzamici
March 28, 2025

Billionaire’s Row building company Extell claims the high end, Upper East Side Chinese restaurant has overstayed its lease in a building they have slated for demolition — and are seeking nearly $1 million in penalties, new court papers reveal.

Extell is taking the trendy Chinese eatery to court after buying the property, and three others next door, just this month for $103 million, with plans to put up a swanky 37-story apartment tower.

The new landlord quickly turned up the heat on the renowned eatery, by filing a suit Wednesday that demands $977,000 in penalties from Philippe Chow for allegedly not vacating the location when their lease ended Monday, according to the lawsuit.

The suit, filed against Philippe Chow owner Abraham Merchant of Merchant Hospitality, also claims Chow owes six months of unpaid rent — roughly $390,000 — and could be on the hook for hundreds of thousands more each month it remains in the location at 33 East 60th Street.

What the eatery will ultimately pay is unclear. David M. Grill, of the firm Rivkin Radler, refused to return calls seeking comment, and a communications director for the firm, Laurie Bloom, declined to comment.

In the court papers, which were filed in Manhattan Supreme Court and first reported by Crain’s, Extell claims to be entitled to four times their $61,000 monthly rent for 120 days as punishment for the restaurant not vacating the lease on time.

However, Extell also states in their filing that the “exact amount” will be determined at trial — and that Merchant could owe up to an additional $977,680, depending on when he ultimately vacates.

Merchant told The Post that the information in the suit was “inaccurate” and that they would file their response shortly. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.