Well, it's official. After noting that Andre Balazs was closing on the Cooper Square Hotel for $90 million, the hotel's website proudly proclaimed "WE ARE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE 5TH ADDITION TO OUR STANDARD FAMILY WITH THE STANDARD, EAST VILLAGE!" It looks like they'll be remodeling the place over the course of the next year, turning it into the 145 room hotel. Don't expect it to be too much like its west side counterpart though, as the announcement goes on to say "Don’t get too excited though! Unlike The Standard, New York, this East side counterpart, located on the corner of East 5th Street and Bowery at Cooper Square, is going to be a more mellow alternative to all the boom in your West side room."
· Introducing the Standard, East Village [Standard Culture]
· Cooper Square Hotel Coverage [Curbed]

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The latest rumor swirling around the Cooper Square Hotel was that a new name would be taking it over: hotelier and man behind The Standard Andre Balazs. At the time, Team Balazs told us he was interested in the building (which has been up for sale with a hefty price tag) but hadn't confirmed anything. Now EV Grieve has some hard evidence: Andre Balazs is listed as the hotel's principal on a liquor license transfer application for the hotel, which will go before Community Board 3 on Monday. Time for the Boom Boom Room East?
· Andre Balazs prepping to take over the Cooper Square Hotel [EVG]
· Cooper Square Hotel coverage [Curbed]

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Hotelier Andre Balazs has been linked to a few big-name projects lately, from the Hotel Chelsea to JFK's Terminal 5. Neither of those has panned out for Balazs, but here's another possibility: the Cooper Square Hotel. Hotel Chatter hears a rumor that Balazs could take over the hotel as soon as September 1. The staff seem to have gotten wind of something going on—the tipster tells Hotel Chatter "few [know] of the details or the new owner's name. Deal is done, pending signatures and transfer of operating funds as of 8/31." The hotel gave only a "no comment," but the place has been on the market (with its eye on high end hoteliers willing to pay more than $80 million) since May. Anyone know anything else?
· Is Andre Balazs Busy Taking Over The Cooper Square Hotel? [Hotel Chatter]
· Cooper Square Hotel coverage [Curbed]

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Seems we went down this road not long ago, when the Cooper Square Hotel changed owners in a $70.9 million deal between the hotel and lender Westport Capital Partners. But the hotel is for sale again, the Post's Lois Weiss reports. The price could be higher than the $80 million deal in the works for the Hotel Chelsea, sources tell the Post, and the seller has its eye on the usual high end hoteliers, including Ian Schrager and European hotel honcho Rocco Forte. The hotel has seen decent occupancy lately, but Westport Capital apparently wants to quit while it's ahead. And it is the season when the new owner will get the warmest welcome from the neighbors.
· Cooper Hotel a prize catch [NYP]
· Cooper Square Hotel coverage [Curbed]

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As part of a farewell art show before it's demolished to make way for 12 stories of luxury apartments, the East Village's Mars Bar is sporting a new look. New, but familiar. An artist is covering the bar with photos of the facade of the nearby Cooper Square Hotel, aka Dubai on the Bowery. We're no art experts, but we think there may be some symbolism.
· Mars Bar facade update (April 21, 2011) [Roger_Paw via EV Grieve]
· Mars Bar coverage [Curbed]

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The rumors we heard last year that Grand Hotels planned to buy the Bowery's Dubai turned out not to be true, but they were true in spirit. The Cooper Square Hotel does indeed have a new owner, The Real Deal reports. Lender Westport Capital Partners now has control of the property, following the last-minute failure of a deal with Grand Hotels (maybe that explains the long face). The hotel and its lender reached a $70.9 million deal to restructure the hotel's debt, and Westport Capital actually got the keys at the end of 2010. Westport promises no big changes to the place, apart from the new eats downstairs. Now that the weather's warming, will we see an outdoor welcome from the neighbors?
· Cooper Square Hotel changes hands in $71M debt restructuring deal [Real Deal]
· Cooper Square Hotel coverage [Curbed]

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This week's top dish from Eater NY, Curbed's restaurant, bar, and nightlife blog...

[Via Eater.]

1) East Village: It's Friday, which means it's opening day for The Trilby, the newest restaurant to grace the Cooper Square Hotel. If the graphic above doesn't quite give a flavor of the place, Eater also knows this: The Trilby will serve moules-frites and mini short rib sandwiches.

2) Williamsburg: Also opening soon—in fact, one year after its previous incarnation burned down in a fire—is Southern American restaurant The Brooklyn Star, with a larger space in Williamsburg. Have a look inside.

3) FiDi: The owner of the food kiosks at 1 Centre Street's Police Plaza is looking for some vendors. Already-interested restaurants include Fatty Crab, Artichoke Pizza, and Billy's Bakery.

4) Soho: Attention, inhabitants of staff studios city-wide. The French Culinary Institute is now offering a class entitled "Laundry Essentials for Household Staff," for the low, low price of $1,750.

· Eater [ny.eater.com]

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FINANCIAL DISTRICT—Here's a better look at the new 24-story dorm at Broadway and Fulton Street being put up by Pace University, and its three floors of glassy retail down below. DNAinfo reports that demolition of the existing two-story building at the site is already underway. [DNAinfo]

EAST VILLAGE—On Friday rumors started spreading that the deal for the Cooper Square Hotel fell through, and Grand Hotels would not be buying the Bowery's Dubai, as was planned. Today hotel reps confirmed that, putting out the following statement: "The Cooper Square Hotel will not be purchased by an outside party. The hotel will continue to operate under managing partner Klaus Ortlieb and his team. The hotel will announce plans for a new restaurant in early 2011." [CurbedWire Inbox]

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Despite their fondness for soiled undergarments, we will never doubt the folks living behind the Cooper Square Hotel. Their rumor that the owners of the Soho Grand and Tribeca Grand hotels were swooping in to buy the debt-plagued Bowery controversy magnet has panned out. Gothamist was at last night's Community Board 3 meeting, where some guys in suits tried to smooth over a potential transfer of the Coop's many liquor licenses and confirmed that the deal will be done soon. Will the new ownership be more friendly with the backsiders? We'll have to wait and see if spring brings a brand new douche bag swaying in the breeze.

Meanwhile, the iconic Hotel Chelsea is still for sale, and here's one name we're removing from the list of suitors: Ian Schrager. The godfather of boutique hotels (and owner of Noho's nicest lawn) tells Bloomberg News he recently toured the property and passed on it, despite it being a "sexy asset with an incredible sexy history." The owners reportedly want $90 million for the boho landmark, though they won't confirm that price.
· Cooper Square Hotel Being Sold to Soho and Tribeca Grand [Gothamist]
· Schrager Passes on Buying Manhattan's Hotel Chelsea After Considering Bid [Bloomberg]

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