‘Vandal’ Identified as Chris Santos-TAO Venture on the Bowery
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Hound, the real vandal of 199 Bowery
More than five months into renovations, the joint TAO-Chris Santos venture at 199 Bowery has finally been named. Behold, Vandal.
As previously reported, Vandal takes a page from sister spot Beauty & Essex, and will include an up-front faux “gallery” entrance. The restaurant will seat some three hundred people across three dining rooms on the main level, and include a basement “lounge.” Menu remains variable at this point, with an ambiguous description of “globally-inspired small plates.” No idea WTF that means.
Anyway, programming in the forward entrance will revolve periodically to include anything from a flower shop to a music store (what they call “a little surprise”). As the name Vandal suggests, the overall theme for the concept is a “street art vibe,” with muralists Shepard Fairey and Hush already confirmed for artwork.
Community Board 3 approved the full liquor license application back in July. The Tao crew ultimately agreed to stipulations of 1am closing times during the week and 2am on weekends; 3am closing time all days for the basement lounge. Full liquor was approved for both levels.
The TAO Group takes the torch from EMM Group, as we first reported last March. The latter couldn’t make ends meet (an understatement) and were a constant thorn in the side of the neighborhood. Particularly for those living in the building itself at 199 Bowery.
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