Massive ‘Ainslie’ Offshoot Planned for Tao’s old Bowery Spot
Ainslie is headed across the East River to the Bowery.
The expansive Italian restaurant, which opened in Williamsburg last year, has eyes for the Vandal. 199 Bowery, that is.
(The latter nightclub shuttered over the summer, succumbing to the pandemic.)
Ainslie is owned by Sergio Riva, Mario Riva, and AJ Bontempo, who together seek a full liquor license for the massive bi-level Bowery space. The application is on the Community Board 3 docket for next month.
This Lower East Side outpost is enormous, with indoor seating of 140 tables and 525 seats. Proposed hours of operation are until 4:00am all days.
And if Ainslie 2.0 mirrors that of the Williamsburg original, then patrons can expect the space to be divided between rustic wine bar, beer hall, and cocktail lounge.
The elephant in the room, of course, is coronavirus, and whether the crowds will follow. Add to that the history of this space spitting out over-the-top establishments. Can Ainslie buck that trend?
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