Seasoned New York Hospitality entrepreneur, restaurateur Eytan Sugarman, has announced the formulation of Hudson Street Hospitality Group, his official umbrella company housing the multitude of his expeditiously growing empire, many years in the making. With his rapidly expanding Made In New York Pizza empire (Featured on the cover of F&B August 2023), the success of Hunt & Fish Club, and ownership of the historic White Horse Tavern, Sugarman has been known in the New York hospitality landscape as a respected owner and operator for over twenty five years. Sugarman is also known among peers and hospitality industry alike for his strong sense of community and dedication to the people of New York City, layered with regular philanthropic endeavors.
Paired with the formation of Hudson Street Hospitality also comes the announcement of The Hudson Club, a sophisticated cocktail bar and restaurant, which will open its doors this Summer on West 55th Street. Furthermore, Sugarman also announces the acquisition of historic South Street 150 year old brasserie The Paris Cafe, and an ownership stake in the recently opened Greenwich Village Italian restaurant, Ambra Italia Trattoria.
Sugarman, a native New Yorker that grew up on the Upper West Side, has been behind iconic restaurants and venues such as Suede, Destino, Strawberry’s Sports Grill and Southern Hospitality BBQ, and for the last decade, has been at the helm of his successful midtown steak and seafood haunt, Hunt & Fish Club, which further established his name into the fine dining space. Hunt & Fish Club recreates the glory of 1960’s New York through a ritzy steakhouse aesthetic featuring 50,000 lbs of marble, with an original design by renowned contemporary artist Roy Nachum and architect Studio Iyor.
The announcement of Hudson Street Hospitality is long overdue, as Sugarman, a respected hospitality leader, continues to be a voice for New York owners and operators, with good-hearted and pure interest in offering a positive contribution to the ever-evolving Manhattan landscape. Sugarman has spent the last decade focused on mainstay establishments, rather than trendy spots that are short-lived. Sugarman’s vision for Hudson Street Hospitality was based on these leadership beliefs, actioned to form a group representative of his three decades in the business, therefore formulating an instrumental executive team comprised of a carefully chosen group of seasoned industry players and respected friends; Matt Shendell (Chief Operating Officer) – Ainsworth , Richie Romero (Chief Branding Officer) – Hearsay, Nebula, and Shaun Rose (Chief Marketing Officer) – Goldbar. Executive Chef of Ambra and The Paris Cafe John DeLucie also takes on a role as Head Chef of the group consulting on all venues overall, and Andrea Ienna as Operating partner, the original owner of Ambra.
Adds Hudson Street Hospitality Owner & Founder Sugarman, “I want to continue to offer New Yorkers both new dining destinations and reinvent historic institutions, with an unwavering goal to continue to create familial, institutional spots for both local and visiting patrons that are inviting, hospitable, and aimed at the experience of the customer. The landmark spots preserve the history of the city, while our new creations are part of the continued, positive evolution.”
In 2018 Sugarman introduced the Made In New York Pizza brand, currently sitting at four locations around Manhattan spanning from Hudson Street in West Village to Midtown West and two on the Upper West Side, with additional locations set to open. Made In NY Pizza is a joint partnership with Gary Vaynerchuk, Guy Oseary, DJ Clue, and One Direction frontman Ryan Tedder, at the hand of Sugarman. The pizza shops are designed with custom graffiti art and murals from both on-the-rise and established New York street artists, paired with delicious and authentic New York style pizza offerings. They serve as neighborhood staple pizzerias and in-demand delivery destinations for Manhattanites. Barstool Sports “One Bite” had Immediately rated the signature pepperoni an 8.3 and classic cheese slide 7.9 within the first week of opening, paired with rave verbal reviews. Adds Sugarman, “The core values of Made In New York ultimately come from the culture of the brand. It was a brand born of passion, love, and friendship.” This is a mindset Sugarman is known for carrying into all of his projects, whenever possible.
In 2019, Sugarman bought the historic West Village landmark, White Horse Tavern, a pub-style bar and restaurant established in 1880, located at 567 Hudson Street, in order to preserve its legacy, which includes the notoriety of regular patrons and literary icons like Bob Dylan, Dylan Thomas, and Jim Morrison. Keeping authentic to the White Horse brand, but aimed to reinvent the Greenwich Village watering hole, Sugarman expanded the tavern footprint with a street side covered dining patio, and floral exterior adornments which have kept it an in-demand Hudson Street landscape staple. The restaurant and bar offers an extensive lunch and dinner menu, and recently announced the introduction of weekend brunch, catering to the demand from area locals. Their cocktail, beer and wine menu is of course quite vast, with signature drink favorites, known in the neighborhood for a staple happy hour layered with ongoing seasonal drink specials. Despite some resistance by neighbors during the Pandemic due to the swift evolution of the Hudson block, the landmark quickly re-established itself as a prominent neighborhood bar and gathering space for Greenwich locals, as well as a newly discovered hotspot bar for Gen Z’ers that are attracted to the quaint pub aesthetic and in search of more intimate, low-key downtown venues to frequent.
As Sugarman continues to expand his hospitality empire, the newly formed Hudson Street Hospitality group also has acquired an ownership stake in White Horse Tavern’s buzzing Hudson Street neighbor, Ambra Italia Trattoria. Ambra, located just next door at 569 Hudson, has gained much popularity due to its picturesque neighborhood dining aesthetic, and incredible homemade Italian menu by Executive Chef John DeLucci (Gramercy Tavern, Lion), since its September 2023 opening. Having already become a favorite to A-List New York personalities and the fashion community, Ambra not only serves delicious cuisine favorites inclusive of meat, vegan and seafood options, but features a full bar with an extensive mixology menu and wine program. Along with its neighbor White Horse, Ambra has also introduced a new weekend brunch program timed to Spring 2024. The ownership stake creates a partnership between Sugarman and Ambra owner, restaurateur Andrea Ienna.
Also keeping with the desire to preserve Manhattan landmark haunts and watering holes that reek of history and incredible storytelling, Hudson Street Hospitality has taken ownership of South Street restaurant and bar, The Paris Cafe, which dates back to 1873. Hudson Street Hospitality is currently planning the relaunch of New York City’s oldest brasserie, located at 119 South Street, with a strategy that still honors the history of The Paris Cafe but evolves it to current day appeal, with programming soon to be announced in conjunction with a menu and cocktail program transformation. (Favorite of Teddy Roosevelt – he was in all the time), Jimmy Hoffa, Billy The Kid)
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Sugarman donated over 4,000 pies to hospitals and first responders, and he continues to offer Made In NY Pizza to those less fortunate on all major holidays as a free meal – Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas – so that no family is without food. His philanthropy truly has no end, always present at a variety of city wide charity galas and events annually, and also notably hosted a fundraiser with New York Yankees’ High Socks For Hope to benefit the victims of the Oklahoma Hurricanes. He has also hosted a variety of fundraisers at his restaurants such as Hunt & Fish Club for the storm victims of Puerto Rico following the weather disaster devastation, Prayers For Puerto Rico, co hosted by NY Yankee legend Jorge Posada and Laura Posada, and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. Sugarman will never be questioned on his patronage and leveraging his resources to propel relief and support those in need.
The Hudson Club vision is to offer an upscale restaurant and bar in midtown that will pay homage to vintage New York in a fully custom designed sexy yet sophisticated setting. The goal is to offer New York patrons an elegant and elevated cocktail bar and dining experience with a familial and inviting vibe. Sugarman, known amongst his peers for his keen eye for detail, is constructing The Hudson Club from scratch, working with the design team on every element of the much anticipated soon-to-open venue. Picture old New York with a modern twist, essentially a destination for those seeking a membership club experience without a membership being required. Accessibility and sophistication in one destination.
The Hudson Club, similar to Hunt & Fish Club, will cater to an elevated clientele, looking for a sophisticated yet fashionable evening, layered with glamor and class. The cuisine and culture of Hunt & Fish Club has maintained itself as an in-demand fine dining destination for a decade now, at the hand of Sugarman’s dedicated direction and skilled vision. The Hudson Club adds another level of sophistication to Sugarman’s repertoire, establishing an exclusive hospitality driven cocktail lounge and dining room, sure to serve the desire of the evolving New York clientele.
