McNally Not Buying Beatrice

Radar Online "broke" a story today that Keith McNally was looking to buy DBTH favorite the Beatrice Inn. Thankfully, Eater put the kaibosh on this rumor, with McNally telling them "I've barely heard of this place, let alone considered buying it! An absolute NO to the rumor, but I'm flattered (if that's the word) that I should be someone reckoned to be in the running." This one should have never gotten off the ground, since the space simply lacks the capacity to do enough business to justify McNally's time. We feel dirty doing a post on it, but it is our business.

Beatrice Inn Shut Down Again

Straight from the beak of a Little Birdy who was on the scene, we get word that the Betarice Inn was visited by the cops again last night. Take it away LB:

I was at the Beatrice Inn last night and something was going down. Around 2 they stopped playing music and the dance floor cleared out. When I left a little while later, there were cop cars outside and the doorman was talking three cops. Maybe they got busted for not having a cabaret license again?

Except for running Manhattan's coolest bar, running the hospitality operations at a new Atlantic City resort, celebrity friends and possibly opening new bars on both coasts, these Beatrice Inn guys can't catch a break. We aren't sure why the cops continue this monthly game of saying hello late at night, unless they really want to see MK. And let's be honest, who doesn't? But the Angelo and the crew do a good job of keeping the street clear and we have seen the neighbors drinking at the bar. Just leave Beatrice alone!

Beatrice Boys Heading West?

We got some interesting gossip from a Little LA Birdy. Even though the contracts aren't finalized on their much hyped Atlantic City deal, the Beatrice Inn gang may be looking to the coast for their next project. Our LLAB says, "Been hearing that Paul is looking to open a new spot in Los Angeles. Don't think it will be a Beatrice, but similar vibe." There you have it. We really doubt that it will be another Beatrice, which of course takes the name of the old restaurant that occupied the same space. And as a wise and successful operator once told us, "your brand is your brand, and never do anything to jeapordize that". Very wise words that everyone should take to heart.

Beatrice Goes Atlantic City

In a stunning move, the owners of the soon to open Chelsea Hotel in Atlantic City have tapped Paul Sevigny and Matt Abramcyk of the Beatrice Inn to oversee the nightlife operations at what they have dubbed "The Fifth Floor". If the parties can come to terms, the downtown duo will be "booking D.J.s, making a menu of specialty cocktails and bringing 'a vibe'," [EN: Heh], while also being asked to bring some of their celebrity friends. The Chelsea is certainly reaching for the gold ring, but will bringing the operators from the downtown club bring hipster success to AC? Opinions vary, from "of course" (Chelsea Hotel Owners), "Maybe but it's not really hip because they are duplicating their flagship" (AC Expert) to "It will be successful, but only on the weekends" (Hotel Expert).

So what do we think? Well, when Allen asked us to comment, we responded that while Atlantic City is certainly headed in the right direction, there is just too much competition to bring it to the pinnacle of the hipster mountain. Even more important, if the Chelsea ever wants to see a return on their investment, their plans better be more developed than getting hipsters to come and drink. These guys need a dynamite hotel product, excellent service, and a way to get bodies into the beach town's only new hotel that lacks gaming all 12 months of the year.

Unfortunately, our quotes weren't used. Too bad for us. But maybe we could've helped get the reporter past the Beatrice's bouncers.

· Soho Meets HoJo in Atlantic City [NY Times]