Rumor: McNally’s ‘Cherche Midi’ to Close by Summertime

Cherche Midi, circa 2016

Renowned restaurateur Keith McNally last week sold his West Village townhouse for $10.3 million. Elsewhere, his Bowery hangout is rumored to shutter.

Word on the street is that Cherche Midi, the three-year-old successor to Pulino’s Pizzeria is on the way out. A tipster tells us that management began telling staff of the impending closure – expected to happen this summer – sometime last week. It’s unclear at the moment, however, the reasoning behind the rumored shutdown.

This corner is seemingly a tough sell, despite the hyper pace of upscaling happening in its midst. Perhaps the Bowery still has some fight.

Before Pulino’s, Sep. 2008

Keith McNally first arrived at the southwest corner of East Houston and the Bowery back in the summer of 2008. His stake to the ground space caused quite a stir at the time, especially the imported “Outsiders” art show that inspired a “Slacktivist” protest. It’s believed that the so-called McNally effect helped further gentrify the area, and certainly paved the way for establishments like Pearl & Ash, Rebelle, and Cata; or Rag & Bone to enter the scene at the expense of Cafe Colonial. Pulino’s would debut in the spring of 2010, after nearly two years under construction; it lasted another three years until its end in December 2013.