NYC mainstay Bryant Park Grill loses bid to renew lease for fancier restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten

The owner of the famed Bryant Park Grill – a mainstay near the Public Library in Midtown for three decades –  was left fuming after his lease was not renewed in favor of a fancier eatery helmed by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.Michael Weinstein claimed he won’t go down without a fight despite the Bryant Park Corp.awarding a new, 18-year lease to Vongerichten on Monday.  Weinstein said his bid was superior, with annual rent at more than $3 million, compared to the $2 million a year that Seaport Entertainment Group, which owns 25% of Vongerichten’s restaurant empire, has agreed to pay. His 1,000-seat restaurant, which helped gentrify the area when it first opened, is one of the country’s highest grossing restaurants, generating $28 million a year — and 72 members of its 250-person staff have worked there for the past 25 years.“Why are they taking something that is very successful and throwing it out and giving it to a new guy who doesn’t have a history in the hospitality business,” said Weinstein, referring to Seaport Entertainment, which was spun off from real estate giant Howard Hughes Corporation last summer. “We are a hugely successful restaurant even though we are handcuffed — the restaurant closes at 10 pm during the week, our outdoor seating is weather permitting, and we don’t do bottle service and turn into a nightclub.” The deal, first reported by Crain’s, is awaiting approval from the city’s Parks Department. “Parks will review the award for this concession; however, Bryant Park Corporation has not yet submitted a selection for our review,” a spokesperson for the Parks Department told The Post on Tuesday.A spokesperson for Jean-Georges Vongerichten declined to comment.Weinstein, whose current contract ends on May 1, called out Biederman for what he called a short-sighted decision – especially since the venue is expected to go dark for up to 10 months while Vongerichten builds out his new restaurant.“Da...