NYC’s iconic Water Club on East River remains indefinitely closed for ‘renovations,’ faces murky future
NY Post
The Water Club, a boldface-favorite Manhattan riverfront restaurant and celebration venue for 42 years, faces a murky future — if any.
Buzzy O’Keeffe’s glamorous eatery and party space on a barge moored off East 30th Street in the East River is indefinitely closed for “renovations” but might not reopen, sources said.
Callers hoping to book dates for weddings and other events were recently told no reservations were being taken while O’Keeffe weighed options for the fabled venue.
A reporter who called to ask about its status this week was told, “It’s all up in the air, to be honest.”
Although O’Keeffe operates the Water Club, the property is owned by the city, which licenses it to his company.
An insider told The Post that his deal with the Department of Ports and Terminals allows O’Keeffe to sell the license, but the sale is subject to city approval of the potential new operator’s management track record and financial qualifications.
