credits: Florent

Florent Neon

Soon this pink glow will flicker and die

I’m sad. The first restaurant I loved in New York will be closing sometime very soon.

22 years ago Florent opened in the Meat Packing District. This was when the area was mostly meat packing plants and S&M clubs. Today, Florent is in danger of becoming another victim of an insane real estate market in an insane neighborhood.

Florent’s landlord is raising the rent from $6K a month to $70K (and I thought my landlord was a greedy SOB.) Rumor has it that the diner will stay open as long as it takes to find a tenant, so let’s hope Starbucks doesn’t hear about the space.

Tibor Kalman’s brilliant work for Florent in the 80’s introduced to me to the establishment before I had even set foot in the city. You can still get matchbooks and postcards designed by Kalman on your way out after finishing up some Moules Frites. The only bonus to Florent closing is that I will no longer have to visit the Meat Packing district, it’s really gone down hill for those of us in the sub $200k salary range.

So, if you’ve never been or want one last blood sausage, I recommend a trip to 69 Gansevoort St. ASAP.

credits: Perverse Optimist

Matchbooks

Florent gives you her number

credits: Perverse Optimist

p-o-t-a-t-o

Florent helps Dan Quayle spell