tavern on the green closure

Bid on a Piece of New York History, Tavern On The Green Auction Planned

Famed Central Park restaurant Tavern on the Green, with its six elaborate dining rooms and 10 miles of white Christmas lights wrapping trees out front, will sadly twinkle no longer. The restaurant is closing its doors for good on Dec. 31, when its operating license expires. That New Year's Eve party will be one for the ages, but hopefully revelers won't be too destructive - the restaurant's ornate decorative objects are being auctioned off a few weeks later.

Tavern on the Green is a Central Park landmark dating back to 1934, when Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia opened it. In 1974 it was reopened after a $10 million renovation by the colorful LeRoy family, who still own it today. The LeRoys filed for bankruptcy after the city didn't renew their operating license.

Current manager, Jennifer Oz LeRoy, is named in honor of her showman grandfather, Mervyn LeRoy, who was a producer of The Wizard of Oz. Perhaps as a way to seal the restaurant in history, Jennifer, along with Kay LeRoy, have written a 300-page book about the restaurant's history, including recipes.

Guernsey's Auction House is handling the sale, which includes decorative items from the 25,000-square-foot restaurant. Previews take place Wednesday, Jan. 6 through Tuesday, Jan. 12, noon to 8 p.m. each day. The public auction is Jan. 13-14 with 1 p.m. afternoon sessions and 6 p.m. evening sessions each day. The auction will take place in the Tavern's Crystal Room at 67th Street and Central Park West.

Some of the items being auctioned include: