The legendary restaurant 'Russian Samovar' is going through hard times and asks for help

Earlier in some media there was information about the bankruptcy of the New York restaurant "Russian Samovar". As it turned out, it is not true. The restaurant is going through difficult times and asks for help, but did not declare bankruptcy in 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has gone through the legendary Russian Samovar establishment like a tornado and a typhoon - the restaurant is suffering losses, the landlord is stern and adamant in demanding to pay off the debt as quickly as possible. More details about the situation in which the iconic Russian restaurant found itself, told the publication "Voice of America".

With a monthly rent of 32 thousand dollars, the restaurant owes half a million due to the pandemic. The wind is blowing along the empty street where the establishment is located, and the number of visitors has decreased several times.

“We've always had a lot of people here, near the theater, hotels. And now all this is closed, unfortunately, ”says the general manager of the restaurant Vlada von Schatz.

“Russian samovar” is 35 years old this year. And, as they say here, it is easier to list those who have not been to this institution. At one time, outstanding representatives of Russian-speaking immigration, American celebrities, famous Russians rested here.

“I remember how Brodsky sang here, how Misha Baryshnikov changed into a waiter. I remember how Lena Koreneva was a waitress with us, she worked for 2 years, ”says Von Schatz.

Joseph Brodsky still has his own table here - the one at which he always sat. Mikhail Baryshnikov did not have - he was sitting where he had to. Sergey Dovlatov, Ernst Neizvestny, Evgeny Yevtushenko, Mstislav Rostropovich were here, director Milash Forman, writers Susan Zontak and Philip Roth were drinking vodka liqueurs; actress Michelle Pfeiffer and musician Laurie Anderson - ate dumplings, listened to chanson, Rachmaninoff and American jazz.

“This is a wonderful place and it owes everything to Roman Kaplan. Once I asked why he called the restaurant a samovar. He replied that this is because the samovar is warm and everyone gathers around it, ”said the writer Alexander Genis.

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For 35 years the center of the "samovar" universe has been Roman Kaplan. All these years, every day he met guests at his restaurant. Only recently retired and spends the winter in Florida.

“I spent the best moments of my life at the table when friends were sitting around. Well, how can I express my favor to my good friend? Of course, don't give him a bill. Why am I going to give him a bill and ruin something? But this is all a joy to me and to him, ”says Kaplan.

Roman Kapan's generosity was infectious. Guests painted his portraits on napkins, actors added to his collection of samovars, artist friends donated their works.

“Each of them was distinguished by spiritual generosity, attention and penetration,” Kaplan said.

In 1987, the newly opened restaurant was also going through difficult times, then friends saved it. Friends advised Roman to seek help from Joseph Brodsky, who recently received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

“I called him, explained the situation, he asked if the money would be lost, I said that most likely not. He talked to Baryshnikov and they helped the restaurant, ”Kaplan recalls.

They were partners for many years. When Brodsky died, his commemoration was held in the restaurant. Evenings of his memory are held every year. And Baryshnikov is still looking in here, quickly sits down at a free table.

Asking for help from famous friends Roman is now even more awkward than before. He is outraged by the intransigence of local landlords.

“This is the same misfortune that all people fell into. Nobody thought that because of the pandemic, it was not clear where it came from, suddenly life would be completely destroyed, ”says Kaplan.

“I only hope for one thing that the pandemic will not destroy the Samovar, because there will be no other such. This is the magic of a place that cannot be replaced, ”says Genis.

Russian Samovar is a family business today. The general manager is the adopted daughter of Roman Vlad. And her son Nicholas works at the bar. He literally grew up in a restaurant and really hopes that the "Russian Samovar" will survive all the hardships.

How to help the "Russian Samovar"

The owners have created a fundraising page for GoFundMe.

“The legendary“ Russian Samovar ”needs your help to survive. Like many other businesses in New York, the restaurant will be in serious danger if we do not come together as a community and raise the necessary funds, ”- says the page.

“With your help, we will be able to return all our beloved employees and musicians, pay our landlord, taxes and utilities and continue to receive guests with the warmth and comfort, as it always has been,” continues the fundraiser.

Aside from the half-million-dollar rent debt, other bills continue to pile up. The owners of the restaurant claim that their financial situation is such that they cannot pay off debts and hire staff.

Russian Samovar is not just a restaurant in the theater district, it is a part of New York history. Originally, Gilly's Dining Room (an establishment in the same location) was popular with the celebrity hangout of the 1960s and was owned by Frank Sinatra's friend Gilly Rizzo. Gilly was Sinatra's favorite spot. We have preserved the original bar, some of the furniture and works of art from those times, ”the owners say.

Why a restaurant can't get help from the state

Usually, the owners of restaurants and bars in New York can count on financial assistance from the state, but the “Russian Samovar” is deprived of this opportunity.

According to Von Schatz, the reason is that in 2018, due to problems, the restaurant filed for bankruptcy.

“Unfortunately, the situation has developed in this way - in 2018 we declared bankruptcy. Then we almost reached an agreement with our landlord. And we almost formalized everything officially, but a pandemic happened, and we did not manage to get out of bankruptcy, which helped us to reorganize all our debts, "Von Schatz said in an interview. RTVI.

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And it is bankruptcy that prevents you from getting help, since there is a clause about it in the application.

“All we can count on is the help of our friends. The restaurant is open, we are working. I hope that many have already been vaccinated and are ready to leave the house, - continued Von Schatz. - We are open and we are not going to close. We will think of something to stay with our guests. "

“Unfortunately, the situation has developed so that without help, we will not get out,” summed up Von Schatz.