Renowned Restaurateur Tony May Leases Space at The Columbia University School of Social Work

New York, NY – The Columbia University School of Social Work (CUSSW) today announced that the ground level space of its building, located at 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, has been leased by the University to noted restaurateur Tony May. Mr. May is the owner of San Domenico NY restaurant and is a 45-year veteran of the New York food and restaurant scene. Jud Ebersman, Vice Chairman of Walter & Samuels, Inc., represented both Columbia University and Mr. May in the transaction.

Mr. May and his partner Mimmo Magliulo, owner of Buon Italia at Chelsea Marketplace, will build-out the now empty site with plans for completion by fall 2006. The lease covers 7,000 square-feet of space for retail purposes, with 60-feet of frontage on Amsterdam Avenue. Rafael Alvarez, chief designer for some of the most noted hospitality interiors in the city, has been commissioned for the design. Mr. May and Mr. Magliulo are currently developing specific plans for the site and will release details once they are finalized. They anticipate that approximately 40 - 50 full and part-time food service jobs will be created.

Philip Silverman, Vice President for Real Estate at Columbia, stated: “We are delighted to include Mr. May and his team among our tenants. Our goal is always to find partners who will enrich the neighborhood and are as committed as we are to its long-term development. As a seasoned professional in his industry whose success has come through serving the needs of a community, Mr. May is an ideal fit.”

Added Jeanette Takamura , Dean of CUSSW, “We are excited to have renowned restaurateur Tony May as part of our community. We look forward to welcoming him.”

Tony May said, “Columbia University is more than just one of the world’s most prestigious learning institutions; it somehow manages to be both quintessentially New York and a vital, global cultural center at the same time. My goal is to deliver a place worthy of this great neighborhood and the University.”

About CUSSW (www.socialwork.columbia.edu)

For more than 100 years, the Columbia University School of Social Work has been the leader in practice and policy. Located in New York City, the School offers Master’s and Doctoral programs that are internationally recognized for their excellence. With 300 agencies and 450 sites, Columbia's far-reaching field education experience continues to be at the forefront of clinical practice, public policy, teaching, research and social work leadership in the 21st Century.

About Tony May

New York-based Tony May is owner of the legendary San Domenico NY restaurant and has been a presence on the New York food and restaurant scene for more than four decades. In 2005, Saveur magazine dubbed May America's "Italian Benefactor." San Domenico NY, located on Central Park South for 18-years, is co-owned with his daughter Marisa and is frequently cited as one of the top 25 restaurants in America. May serves on the boards of the Culinary Institute of America (trustee emeriti), Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani (President) and Distinguished Restaurants of North America. Prior to opening San Domenico NY, May owned the critically-acclaimed Palio for two years. For nearly 20 years before that (1968 - 1986), May was the "face" of New York's Rainbow Room, beginning as its General Manager and eventually becoming its owner. May is also the author of ITALIAN CUISINE: Basic Cooking Techniques; currently in its second edition, and hailed as a title "destined to become a standard volume on the cookbook shelf." 

Contacts:

Jeannie Yip
[email protected]
212-851-2327

Susan Lietz
[email protected]
212-807-9848