Tom Colicchio announced last week that Craft, his well-known Flatiron restaurant, will close its doors this summer. The restaurant has been a fixture on East 19th Street since opening a quarter-century ago. Colicchio cited changes in both the city's dining landscape and customer habits as reasons for the decision.
On Friday evening, the dining room was full. Regulars and longtime staff were aware that the end was near. Servers fielded questions about reservations for the final weeks, and several guests remarked on the rising costs of dining out.
Colicchio has been a visible figure in the city’s restaurant scene, and his comments reflect a broader uncertainty among chefs about the future of independent fine dining in New York. He pointed to the challenge of maintaining standards as operating expenses and diner expectations shift.
Craft is expected to close later this summer. The exact closing date has not been announced. Colicchio said he would turn his attention to other projects but did not specify plans for the Flatiron space.