When restaurant Le Colonial returns to the city in the summer of 2027 at Vornado- and LeFrak-owned 50 W. 57th St., it won’t come a day too soon for the long block between Fifth and Sixth avenues that’s been too long blighted.
The popular French-Vietnamese restaurant that was once on East 57th Street is returning after a 10-year absence. It will replace Mangia, which moved across the street.
Gary Trock, formerly of CBRE and now at his own firm, Retail Advisory Services, represented Le Colonial along with partner Sam Botel. Trock said it will have 9,600 square feet on three indoor levels as well as sidewalk seating. The asking rent was a blended $125 per square foot, he said.
It will be designed in the same elegant-tropical style as the original Le Colonial and at other locations including Chicago, Houston and Delray Beach. The owner is the brand’s founder, Rick Wahlstedt, and nightlife legend Frederick Lesort is a partner, Trock said.
But west of Bergdorf Goodman, the 900-foot long block seems more empty than full, due to huge, wheel-spinning development sites owned by Soloviev, Vornado and Jeffries Morris.
Turkish developer Sedesco has demolished buildings on the block’s north side at 37-47 W. 57th but has yet to file plans with the Department of Buildings.
