MJP –
After falling victim to a scam that drained $45,000 from its funds, a renowned New York eatery is now declaring bankruptcy due to its inability to settle its debts.
Gotham Restaurants, the dining establishment in New York City that made headlines for falling victim to a $45,000 scam, has officially submitted a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy safeguard.
The Managing Partner, Bret Csencsitz, pointed to a scam as the reason for the closure of the Greenwich Village restaurant, which had already shut down.
Nevertheless, the tale holds further secrets.
Legal papers reveal that the restaurant, previously renowned as one of New York’s top fine dining spots, faced far graver issues beyond falling victim to fraudsters pretending to be from a payroll company.
According to the legal document, the restaurant owed over $1 million, with close to $500,000 being owed in state taxes.
Image – The New York Times
According to the paperwork, the restaurant appraises its assets at a mere $50,000.
Csencsitz had bravely shared his experience of being deceived, expressing his desire to shield other colleagues from being ensnared by the same deceitful scheme.
In a story he told Restaurant Business and various other media outlets, Csencsitz explained that a person pretending to be from Paychex, the company that handles payroll processing, instructed him to transfer $45,000 to cover the restaurant’s latest payroll.
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The managing partner had a gut feeling that something was amiss when the usual confirmation email for the fund transfer did not show up in his inbox.
Csencsitz expressed that due to the setback, he had to temporarily shut down the restaurant.
Although closed, the establishment suggests online visitors explore the unique atmosphere of Billy’s Bar, located within the restaurant.
In 1984, Gotham made its debut under the name Gotham Grill & Bar.
Quickly, the chef Albert Portale gained recognition for his culinary creations at the restaurant, where he continued to cook until he left in 2019.
Nevertheless, the restaurant never regained its former critical acclaim following Portale’s exit.
Currently, he manages a restaurant bearing his name located approximately half a mile from here.
A message is being broadcast to Gotham residents, informing them that the restaurant will be shut down for the entire month of July for “enhancements,” and will reopen for lunch and dinner in August.
It is still uncertain whether the company’s most recent bankruptcy filing will alter that plan.
