La Ripaille, a French restaurant located in the West Village, is set to close as its owner, Alain Laurent, retires after over four decades in the business. The restaurant, which has been a favorite among both celebrities and patrons of French cuisine since 1980, has been put up for sale along with the building it occupies on Hudson St. Laurent, now 70, explained that after running a restaurant for 44 years, he feels it is time to pass the torch.
Over the years, La Ripaille has attracted a number of famous guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Anne Hathaway, Sylvester Stallone, Pelé, Derek Jeter, Madonna, and Salman Rushdie. The name of the restaurant, La Ripaille, comes from an old French expression meaning to feast. Diners have enjoyed a variety of dishes on the menu, such as traditional cassoulet, escargots, wild mushroom flambeed in cognac, and filet mignon au poivre et frites.
Despite the popularity of La Ripaille, the daily demands of running a busy restaurant eventually took a toll on Laurent and his family. Laurent expressed his desire to spend more time with his wife, kids, and grandson, as he had been working up to seven days a week, including holidays. Initially starting his career in banking, Laurent eventually began working at French restaurants in New York and decided to open his own establishment after gaining some experience.
When Laurent first opened La Ripaille, the West Village was a very different place, with the nearby Meatpacking District being run down. The restaurant gradually built a following through word of mouth and positive reviews from publications like New York magazine. In 1986, Laurent purchased the building that housed the restaurant, along with 10 rental units above it, for $900,000. Now, the property is on the market for $17 million, attracting the interest of potential buyers looking for a prime location in the West Village.
The building that houses La Ripaille is located close to Google’s headquarters, Hudson River Park, art galleries, and the Whitney Museum, making it an appealing investment opportunity for potential buyers. Laurent’s neighbors have included notable figures such as Steve Cohen and Andy Cohen. The brokers handling the sale have suggested that the building could potentially be transformed into a private members club, leveraging its status as a historic and well-known location in the West Village.
As Laurent prepares to retire and close the doors of La Ripaille, fans of the restaurant and French cuisine alike will have to bid farewell to this iconic dining spot. The restaurant’s long history, famous clientele, and delicious menu offerings have left a lasting impact on the culinary scene in the West Village. The sale of the building and the end of an era for La Ripaille mark the conclusion of a chapter in New York City’s vibrant restaurant landscape.
