By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
GREENWICH VILLAGE — The Pink Tea Cup — a 55-year-old Greenwich Village soul food institution once frequented by celebrities Bill Cosby, Susan Sarandon and Whoopi Goldberg — reopens Tuesday night.
Ahead of the launch, DNAinfo took a peek inside the new digs to check out the bubble-gum pink walls and a brand new bar.
“It’s exceeded all my expectations,” Pink Tea Cup’s new owner Lawrence Page told DNAinfo, while fixing up last minute touches in the restaurant. “It’s a blessing to bring it back.”
The original 42 Grove St. restaurant was shuttered was shuttered in December. Now, under new management, the new restaurant is at 88 Seventh Ave.
Long-time West Village resident Chet Tee, who ate at the old restaurant for more than 40 years, stopped in his tracks seeing the new spot and salivated at the thought of ribs he’d soon be able to try.
“I’d never thought I’d live to see something like this here in the West Village,” said Missouri-born Tee. “The old one was really shabby. They brought this to life in a creative way.”
Page is bringing a new additions to the menu, including cocktails.
A highlight in the new restaurant is a blown-up photograph on a back wall of Page with Pink Tea Cup founder Charles Raye, which was taken a few months ago when Page went to visit the old-timer in Atlanta.
“He told me we are all going to die, but the restaurant never will,” recalled Page. “It will live on for the next 100 years and we’ll never let it go.”
