One of New York’s oldest restaurants is about to be revived after a long closure.
While you might read a lot now about so-called New York “speakeasies” that don’t even go through the trouble of hiding their bar concept, Bill’s Gay 90’s was the real deal. Founded in 1924 at 57 East 54th Street by jockey Bill Hardy, Bill’s was a genuine speakeasy that boldly risked serving its patrons illicit liquor in the era of prohibition. A New York icon for over a century, ownership of Bill’s changed hands a few times over the years but the owners always preserved the central concept.
When Bill’s Gay 90’s finally closed for good, the concept was replaced by a new tribute to the former speakeasy called Bill’s Townhouse. Operating from 2016 until the 2020 pandemic, Bill’s Townhouse preserved the history of the storied building while elevating its menu with new upscale cuisine. While the new restaurant became extremely popular among Midtown Manhattanites, it couldn’t bear the brunt of the cost incurred by the pandemic and failed to reopen after its initial temporary shut-down.
Today though, it appears that the space will be seeing new life once again. New York restaurateur Christian Pascal has acquired the lease for 57 East 54th Street and will be opening up a new restaurant called Bill’s Supper Club. Christian Pascal currently serves as co-owner at the prestigious Hunt and Fish Club, an elegant, contemporary steakhouse and events space helmed by Executive Chef Chad Brown. Christian is also the founder of Paragon Flair, a catering and events company that specializes in bringing top-notch, restaurant-caliber culinary experiences to organizations across the city and beyond.
Pascal secured all 8,000 square feet of the building with a 15-year deal struck with Meridian Capital Group, agreeing to the asking rent of $40,000 a month. With four distinct floors in the building, the location is a huge blank slate on which Christian can write his vision. According to Meridian’s James Famularo, who brokered the deal, Christian is deeply appreciative of the building’s history, and hopes to preserve as much of the interior as possible while elevating it to the lofty heights that Hunt and Fish Club diners have come to expect from him. Perhaps most importantly, Christian will be preserving the restaurant’s iconic phone booth, piano and bar, which have seen nearly a century of New York history pass them by. According to Famularo, Christian is hoping to open Bill’s Supper Club in about three to four months.
