Moran's

It's been years since I've had a meal at Moran's on 10th Avenue in Chelsea. Every time I've gone by recently, I've thought, "I have to go back before it's gone." And then, "Oh, but Moran's will never go." I mean, it's been there since 1957. How can it just vanish?

By now, you'd think I'd know better.



ArtNews made this announcement on Monday:

"Moran’s, a Chelsea restaurant on Tenth Avenue where auction house specialists, Upper East Side gallery directors, and Lower East Side art dealers have all joined together at some point to eat french fries at the bar and snort cocaine in the not-at-all-inconspicuous-enough bathroom, has closed. The restaurant confirmed this on the phone Monday afternoon, saying its building was sold. The restaurant shut down last Thursday. 'The soul of Chelsea has officially died,' as one art world patron put it to me in an e-mail, I think earnestly."

But that's not the whole story.

I called Moran's in disbelief and was told they are, indeed, closed. But only temporarily. They're renovating and should reopen in 10 - 15 days.

This leaves us with a number of questions. Namely, will Moran's be the same old, unpretentious, cozy joint? Or will it become yet another high-end, High-Lined dining experience?

Update: A reader sent in this goodbye sign. New management. Moran's as we know it has vanished.