MANHATTAN — Fifteen years ago, the Manhattan eatery chain The Grey Dog opened its original location on Carmine Street.
Now its owners are planning a "funeral" for the restaurant location, which they say was forced to close over the weekend because of a dispute with the landlord.
The funeral at the 33 Carmine St. restaurant starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, co-owner Peter Adrian said Tuesday morning.
"We'll have music and drinking for all of our regulars, friends and neighbors who might want to come and say goodbye," he said.
After 8 p.m., the mourners will march to an "after-life party" at The Grey Dog's newest location, at 246 Mulberry St. in SoHo, which officially opens at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 21.
Adrian said the Carmine Street location's landlord claims Adrian and his co-owner and brother David Ethan owe him more than $100,000 in fees, which the brothers say were never included in their lease.
"[The landlord] claimed that he had made an oversight on our lease and informed us that he was intending to collect property taxes retroactive to the beginning of the term," the brothers wrote in a message on their website signed "Pete & Dave."
The space's landlord, Sarsen Realty, LLC, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Despite the dispute, Adrian said there was a "1 percent chance" that the restaurant could reopen in the same venue.
"We have an offer out on the table to the landlord [for a rent increase], which is for market value, the same as what he could get from a new tenant," he said.
Fans of the restaurant have posted signs outside, started a "Save The Grey Dog" Facebook group and posted about the closure on Twitter.
"Grey Dog is CLOSING?? #tragedyofepicproportions," one Twitter user wrote.
Adrian said he we was heartened to see expressions of support by so many fans, who placed signs outside the restaurant.
"It's really sad. It's a little surreal. I knew for a long time that this day would be coming, but to actually live it is sad," he said.
