The lights will stay on at the fabled Campbell Apar𒊎tment, for now.
The posh and secluded Grand Central Terminal cocktail bar, tucked away in the former office of fi𝕴nancier John W. Campbell, temporarily staved off♒ eviction in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday.
Mark Grossich, who’s spent $2.5 million restoring the ornate lounge with its beamed ceilings and leaded windows, sued the MTA claiming it was being pushed out after 17 years ༒due to an unfair bidding process.
The MTA revealed for the first time, in court Wednesday, that it has signed a 10-year lease with hospitality honcho Scott Gerber, who owns the bar and restaurant Irvington in the W hotel in Union Square, to operate the Beaux Arts bar. Scott and his brother Rande Gerber, who is married to Cindy Crawford, coꦉ-founded The Whiskey.
MTA spokesman Stephen Morello said Campbell Apartment owner Mark Grossich had been operating on a month-to-month lease and after a competitive bidding process🐼 Gerber offered “significantly more” money for the space.
Morello said that😼 Gerber plans to take over the bar by August.
“We’re super excited about the proper﷽ty,” Scott Gerber told The Post.
He s🎃aid he plans to re-open the bar as a “fresher, better Campbell.”
“If you’ve been in there lately you’ll see its a little dingy and down in the dumps. We really want to bring the place back to what weไ feel it should be. It’s such an iconic bar, but we feel it’s been neglected.”
He planꩲs to 💮install new carpeting and furnishing but otherwise keep the upscale speakeasy look and feel of its predecessor.
“We’re not look🐎ing to make it a Whiskey bar,” Gerber said, adding that he likes the name “The Campbell.”
Grossich’s attorney Robert Bergen said his client offered to pay more than double its monthly rent of $16,000, but Gerber submitted a hi💫gher bid. Bergen says in court papers that the MTA failed to conduct an independent real estate appraisal of the space as required under the law and itౠs own guidelines.
Manhattan Judge🦹 Kathryn Freed stayed any eviction until at least Aprilไ 27 when the parties are due back in court.
Grand Central is currently undergoing a major restaurant makeover, including swapping out an old Junior’s for a W🅠ichcraꦦft, the sandwich chain run by celebrity chef Tom Colicchio.