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West Village Restaurant Closed Over Technicality, Reports Say

By Hannah Frishberg | July 8, 2015 12:39pm
 Commerce Bar closed suddenly Monday night.
Commerce Bar closed suddenly Monday night.
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The West Village bistro Commerce Restaurant closed this week over a legal technicality, Eater NY reported.

Just six-years old, Harold Moore's restaurant at 50 Commerce St. had a swanky vibe that, combined with its almost "hidden" location, made it feel like a far more established New York institution. Following a near  four-year legal battle with the landlord, Moore finally lost over "a missed filling," despite remaining open under lease during extensive reconstruction.

The closure came suddenly and without warning, and chef de cuisine Carsten Johannsen expressed disappointment to EaterNY.

"I am saddened, that something commercially and critically successful is no longer. Commerce was such a special place. I hope our neighbors and loyal customers, who have been our biggest supporters, will visit me at my newest ventures," he said. 

Heartbroken foodies can look to Moore's future plans to open Harold's Meat + Three in the Tommie Hotel Hudson, as well as the Commerce Sweet Shop on Bedford Street. No new location for Commerce has yet been announced, nor could a replica ever be the same, anyway.