Cipriani S.A.

Last updated

Cipriani S.A. is an Italian hotel and leisure company domiciled in Luxembourg that owns and operates luxury restaurants and clubs around the world including Harry's Bar in Venice and formerly the Rainbow Room in New York City. It specialises in simple, traditional Italian food.

Contents

Cipriani S.A. traces its history to family patriarch Giuseppe Cipriani, (1900–1980) [1] who founded Harry's Bar in Venice in 1931. According to the company history, Harry Pickering, a young Bostonian, had been frequenting Hotel Europa in Venice, where Giuseppe Cipriani was a bartender. When Pickering explained that he was broke because his family had found out his drinking habits and cut him off financially, Cipriani loaned Pickering 10,000 lire (about $500 US [$7,839 in 2015 dollars]). Two years later, Pickering returned to the hotel bar, ordered a drink, and gave Cipriani 50,000 lire in return. "Mr. Cipriani, thank you," he said, according to the Cipriani website. "Here's the money. And to show you my appreciation, here's 40,000 more, enough to open a bar. We will call it Harry's Bar."

Harry's Bar became a popular spot for celebrities like Ernest Hemingway and Humphrey Bogart. Mr. Cipriani created the Bellini cocktail there, and the food dish Carpaccio is also reputed to have originated there.

Giuseppe's son Arrigo Cipriani (born 1932) is the majority owner. Arrigo is Italian for Harry. [1] His son Giuseppe Cipriani (born 1965) is the main business manager.

History

In 1958, the elder Cipriani built the Hotel Cipriani in Venice. In 1967, Cipriani Sr. sold rights to the Cipriani name trademark. [2]

The family went international in 1985 under the Cipriani name when it opened Harry Cipriani in New York City in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel. [3] Within two years the family was evicted from the hotel and opened the Cipriani Bellini bar nearby. [1] Eventually they would return to the hotel.

110 East 42nd Street Bowery-savings-bank.jpg
110 East 42nd Street

In 1997, the Ciprianis bought 55 Wall Street, noted for its huge ornate former First National Bank lobby. They sold it in 1999 and bought the Bowery Savings Bank's 110 East 42nd Street building across from Grand Central, again noted for its huge ornate lobby. [4] 55 Wall Street Cipriani's, Grand Central Cipriani's and Cipriani Tribeca were designed by Anthony Morali of Morali Architects. [5]

In 1998, they leased the Rainbow Room, performed minor modification / major gutting of the 87' Rockefeller Restoration and fired the members of Local 6 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union which picketed it. The labor dispute was settled in 1999, resulting in a recall of the displaced Local 6 employees for 10 years until 2009, when Cipriani was evicted by the owner / operator Tishman Speyer.

In 2005, the company won the rights from the Hudson River Park board to develop Pier 57 into Leonardo's, a luxury complex that included a museum, catering hall, shops, restaurants, a rooftop pool and a public park. [6] Their principal competition was the Chelsea Piers, just north of Pier 57. [7] After winning the bid, Michael DiLeonardo, an associate of Peter Gotti, turned state's evidence against the accused mobster. In his testimony, DiLeonardo said that the Ciprianis had paid $120,000 to the Gambino crime family to make union problems at the Rainbow Room disappear. [8] The charges were never confirmed. However, the Ciprianis were unsuccessful in firing the union workers. The Ciprianis relinquished their rights to develop the pier after co-investors in the project withdrew. [3] [9]

In April 2004, Cipriani opened in London. The site on Davies Street in Mayfair was co-founded and established by Fabrizio Cerina of the Swiss banking group Credit des Alpes, who also acted as strategic advisor to Cipriani in the sale and leaseback of the Saxony Hotel, Miami in 2009, one of the biggest ever property deals in Miami. [10]

In 2006, in partnership with attorney Steve Witkoff, Cipriani bought 55 Wall Street again. [4]

Arrigo and Giuseppe pleaded guilty in 2007 to misdemeanor tax evasion for defrauding $3.5 million in state and city taxes for six years beginning in 1998. They were placed on probation through 2011 and an independent auditor was assigned to monitor future payments. [3]

In December 2008, the High Court of England and Wales ruled that Orient-Express Hotels (which owns the Hotel Cipriani) owns the Cipriani trademark and that the use of "Cipriani" in the name of the London restaurant infringed its trademark rights. [2] [11] The decision was upheld on appeal by the Court of Appeal on 24 February 2010, which ordered that the restaurant's name would have to be changed by 24 April 2010. [12] The new name of the restaurant is "C". [13]

In January 2009, the Ciprianis announced plans to close the Rainbow Room in a dispute with the owner of 30 Rock, Tishman Speyer Properties. Tishman in turn responded that it was evicting the Ciprianis from the Rainbow Room. [14]


Casa Cipriani opened in the Battery Maritime Building in September 2021 and in that same month, the company announced a new restaurant within Grand Central Terminal. [15] [16]

Properties

Venice
New York City
London
Los Angeles
  • Cipriani Beverly Hills (planned in 2010 in the former Tower Beverly Hills Hotel). [26]
Ibiza
  • Cipriani's Downtown & Bellini Lounge Club
  • Booom! IBIZA
Porto Cervo
  • Cipriani Porto Cervo. [27]
Hong Kong
  • Cipriani Hong Kong. [28]
Miami Beach
Istanbul
Mexico
  • Cipriani Mexico City
Monaco
  • Cipriani Monaco
Saint-Tropez
  • Cipriani Saint-Tropez
Uruguay

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpaccio</span> Thin pieces of fish or meat, served raw as an appetizer

Carpaccio is a dish of meat or fish, thinly sliced or pounded thin, and served raw, typically as an appetizer. It was invented in 1963 by Giuseppe Cipriani from Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy, and popularised during the second half of the twentieth century. The beef was served with lemon, olive oil, and white truffle or Parmesan cheese. Later, the term was extended to dishes containing other raw meats or fish, thinly sliced and served with lemon or vinegar, olive oil, salt and ground pepper, and fruits such as mango or pineapple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinto Brass</span> Italian film director

Giovanni "Tinto" Brass is an Italian film director and screenwriter. In the 1960s and 1970s, he directed many critically acclaimed avant-garde films of various genres. Today, he is mainly known for his later work in the erotic genre, with films such as Caligula, Così fan tutte, Paprika, Monella and Trasgredire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry's Bar (Venice)</span> Restaurant in Venice, Italy

Harry's Bar is a restaurant located at Calle Vallaresso 1323, Venice, Italy, owned by Cipriani S.A.

Cipriani may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porto Cervo</span> Frazione in Sardinia (SS), Italy

Porto Cervo is an Italian seaside resort in northern Sardinia. It is a frazione of the comune of Arzachena, in the province of Sassari. Created by Prince Karim Aga Khan and various other investors, Porto Cervo is the main centre of Costa Smeralda. It has a resident population of 421 inhabitants. Porto Cervo has been named one of the most expensive resorts in the world, along as being a luxury yacht magnet and billionaires' playground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Room</span> Event space and restaurant in New York City

The Rainbow Room is a private event space on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Run by Tishman Speyer, it is among the highest venues in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Disney World Swan</span> Hotel at Walt Disney World

The Walt Disney World Swan is a resort hotel located between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios in the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, and across from its sister resort, the Walt Disney World Dolphin. Both hotels were designed by Michael Graves, and are connected by a palm-tree lined covered walkway crossing a lagoon. The Swan opened on January 13, 1990, as part of a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company, Tishman Hotel Corporation, MetLife and Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which was merged into Marriott International in 2019. The land the resort occupies is owned by the Walt Disney Company and leased on a 99-year term to the Tishman Hotel Corporation and MetLife who own the buildings and contract the operation to Marriott International under the Westin Hotels & Resorts brand. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are a part of the Walt Disney Collection of resorts; because of this they are Disney branded and guests of the resort have access to special Disney benefits available to Disney Resort Hotel guests only.

Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc. is an American corporation founded in 1898 that owns and develops real estate. The company is known for being the contractor that built the original World Trade Center in New York City. Tishman Construction Corporation, the construction division of the company, was sold to AECOM in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellini (cocktail)</span> Cocktail of Prosecco sparkling wine and peach purée

A Bellini is a cocktail made with Prosecco and peach purée or nectar. It originated in Venice, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">660 Fifth Avenue</span> Office skyscraper in Manhattan, New York

660 Fifth Avenue is a 41-story office building on the west side of Fifth Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. The office tower was designed by Carson & Lundin and built for its developer Tishman Realty and Construction from 1955 to 1957.

Harry's Bar may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmond Hotel Cipriani</span> Building in Venice, Italy

The Belmond Hotel Cipriani is a deluxe hotel on the island of Giudecca in Venice, northern Italy. It is reached by hotel launch from St Mark's Square, a five-minute journey across the lagoon. Long considered one of the leading luxury hotels of the world, its room rates begin at USD $1,400 per night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battery Maritime Building</span> Ferry terminal in Manhattan, New York

The Battery Maritime Building is a building at South Ferry on the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City. Located at 10 South Street, near the intersection with Whitehall Street, it contains an operational ferry terminal at ground level, as well as a hotel and event space on the upper stories. The ground story contains three ferry slips that are used for excursion trips and ferries to Governors Island, as well as commuter trips to Port Liberté, Jersey City. The upper stories contain the Cipriani South Street event space, operated by Cipriani S.A., and a 47-room hotel called Casa Cipriani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giuseppe Cipriani (racing driver)</span> Italian racing driver

Giuseppe Cipriani is an Italian racing driver and entrepreneur. He has raced in such series as Auto GP and Formula Palmer Audi. He is also the managing director of Cipriani S.A., an international operator of high-end hotels and restaurants.

Barry Wine is a former restaurateur and current restaurant consultant. Wine's restaurant The Quilted Giraffe, founded with then-wife Susan, was one of the most lauded eateries in the United States for its time. The Quilted Giraffe was first opened in New Paltz, New York, in 1975 and moved to 50th Street in Manhattan, New York City, in 1979. The Quilted Giraffe reopened in 550 Madison Avenue at 55th Street and Madison Avenue in 1987. The restaurant was closed at the end of 1992 when Sony purchased the building and bought out the Wines' lease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Signature drink</span> Any unique or original cocktail drink

A Signature drink is any unique or original drink that expresses the nature of the person or establishment creating it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexington Hotel (New York City)</span> Hotel in Manhattan, New York

The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection is a hotel at 509 Lexington Avenue, at the southeast corner with 48th Street, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. The 27-story hotel was designed by Schultze & Weaver in the Romanesque Revival style and contains 725 rooms. The Lexington, one of several large hotels developed around Grand Central Terminal as part of Terminal City, is a New York City designated landmark.

Giuseppe Cipriani (1900-1980) was the founder of Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy, opening the establishment in 1931. He is the inventor of both the bellini cocktail and the raw beef dish carpaccio. In 1956, he founded the Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice. It was named the best hotel in the world in June 2023 on the Top 1,000 World’s Best Hotels, a list compiled by French company La Liste that uses a composite score based on a wide array of sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry's Bar (London)</span> Restaurant in London, England

Harry's Bar is a private members dining club at 26 South Audley Street in London's Mayfair district.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Behind the Coup at Cipriani" (Google Books). New York . 19 October 1987.
  2. 1 2 "Hit London restaurant told to drop Cipriani name". Reuters . 10 December 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 "Father and Son Restaurateurs in New York City Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion". The New York Times. 1 August 2007.
  4. 1 2 "Mr. Cipriani Takes His Name to Wall Street Condominiums". The New York Times . 26 February 2006.
  5. ↑ "Morali Architects". Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  6. ↑ Bagli, Charles V. (7 April 2005). "Cipriani Wins Bid for Italian Makeover of a West Side Pier". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  7. ↑ Bagli, Charles V. (5 February 2005). "On the Waterfront, Dueling Developers; Two Visions and the Challenge of Making a Choice". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Gray, Geoffrey (13 December 2009). "Bellini Troubles". New York. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  9. ↑ Anderson, Lincoln (10 May 2006). "Cipriani says arrivederci to Pier 57 Leonardo plan". The Villager. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Florida hotel added to Cipriani empire". The Independent (5 February 2008). Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  11. ↑ Hotel Cipriani SRL & Others v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd & Others [2008] EWHC 3032(Ch), [2009] Bus LR D81, [2009] RPC 9(9 December 2008)
  12. ↑ Hotel Cipriani SRL & Others v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd & Others [2010] EWCA Civ 110, [2010] RPC 16(24 February 2010), Court of Appeal
  13. 1 2 "C London". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "Rainbow Room's Lease Terminated". The New York Times. 9 January 2009.
  15. ↑ Adams, Erika (21 September 2021). "Grand Central Terminal Lands New Steakhouse From Glitzy Italian Group Cipriani" . Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  16. 1 2 Maida, Stephanie (7 September 2021). "Inside Casa Cipriani, NYC's Most Exclusive New Hotel & Members' Club" . Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  17. ↑ "Harry's Bar". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011.
  18. ↑ "Harry's Dolci". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  19. ↑ "Harry Cipriani Bar". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  20. ↑ "Club 55". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "55 Wall Street". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  22. ↑ "Cipriani Wall Street". cipriani.com.
  23. ↑ "Cipriani 42nd Street". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  24. ↑ "Cipriano Dolci". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  25. ↑ "NYC Landmarks Re-Opening as Event Spaces". sequence. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  26. ↑ "Cipriani Beverly Hills". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  27. ↑ "Cipriani Porto Cervo". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  28. ↑ "Cipriani Hong Kong". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  29. ↑ "Cipriani Miami" (dead link?). ciprianimiami.com.
  30. ↑ Vendieron Hotel San Rafael en US$ 30 millones. 6 de octubre de 2011 El País
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.