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Limelight church now houses high end Chinese restaurant Jue Lan Club, private dining room named for Peter Gatien

Limelight

The church that housed Peter Gatien’s iconic 80s/90s NYC club Limelight has been a few different things since the music stopped. There were the new clubs Estate and Avalon. Then the high-end mall called Limelight Marketplace opened in 2010. The shopping center was three floors but then scaled down to one when a David Barton Gym opened there in 2014. Attached to the shops is a Grimaldi’s). and now the venue, or more specifically the old Shampoo room, also houses a new upscale Chinese restaurant called the Jue Lan Club (pronounced “You Lan”).

More than any other business in the establishment, the new Chinese restaurant is referencing the old club in various ways. That includes The Gatien Room, a Warhol-inspired private dining room named after Limelight owner Peter Gatien (complete with old club kid trading card wallpaper). From a press release:

Named after a 1930s Chinese art society, the bi-level, 275-seat restaurant is located in the historic church on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan and will open Winter 2015.

“I am very excited about my new partnership with The Jue Lan Club and the formation of the brand, which Stratis and I will build together, both in the United States and abroad. Stratis and I have been friends for two decades and have always wanted to work together,” says Vikram Chatwal.

Jue Lan Club is from restaurateur Stratis Morfogen, the Founder and former owner of Philippe, along with partners Robert Collins from Lure Fish Bar and Richie Romero. At the helm of the kitchen will be Partner and Executive Chef Oscar Toro, the former executive sous-chef of Buddakan. Chef Toro will introduce one of the first Chinese raw bars, as well as unique a la carte tasting menu options, a dim sum brunch served on rolling carts and a variety of traditional Chinese dishes. The space will feature two beautifully designed dining rooms, an event space, an intimate, private dining room and a spectacular outdoor garden. The restaurant will also incorporate historical details from the legendary Limelight, including a Gatien room, named after the former owner, Peter Gatien.

“Vikram and I have been friends for over 17 years and have been trying to find a way to work together but the timing hasn’t been right until now,” says Stratis Morfogen. “The Dream’s clientele compliments our vision for Jue Lan Club seamlessly. Vikram believes in our concept for the Jue Lan Club and in Chef Oscar Toro’s abilities. We’re excited to partner with Vikram and Dream Hotels for the expansion of our brands.”

Former Gatien employee and club director Steven Lewis turned club designer designed the landscaping of the outdoor seating courtyard, as he confirms on his blog.