MIDTOWN — A developer’s plans to demolish a pair of Diamond District buildings could displace more than a dozen jewelry businesses and a popular kosher restaurant, according to public records.
Developer Boris Aronov on Friday got the city’s go-ahead to tear down 41 and 43 W. 47th St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues, a five-story residential building and 7-story commercial building, respectively, according to Department of Building records.
The approved permits put in jeopardy the future of Taam Tov, a popular kosher restaurant serving Central Asian fare that the New York Times described as "the best deal on a street where you can end up spending a fortune.”
A man who answered the phone at Taam Tov on Monday said he was aware of his landlord’s plans to demolish the buildings, but said that as far as he knew nothing is imminent.
“He said he would let me know, so as far as I know we’re here for now,” said the man, who declined to give his name. “If anything happens we’re going to let everybody know.”
It was unclear if the upper floors of the building, which contain seven residential units, are currently occupied.
The building at 43 W. 47th St., like many of its neighbors is occupied by a host of retail and wholesale diamond and jewelry businesses. An employee of Avi and Co. Diamonds, which occupies a storefront in the building, said the business was planning to move soon after seven years in that location, but declined to comment further.
No new building permits have yet been filed for either building, and Aronov did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
