Business & Tech

Graham Elliott's Primary Restaurant in Greenwich Closes

The manager said he was notified via text message Thursday morning that the celebrity chef's restaurant has been closed.


Celebrity chef Graham Elliot's foray into Greenwich — the restaurant Primary Food & Drink — despite good reviews, closed on Thursday.

Standing outside Primary at 409 Greenwich Ave. Thursday afternoon, manager David Wolvovsky said the eatery "is closed as of today — the issue being, it wasn't busy. The investors, the landlord pulled the trigger."

Wolvovsky, who said he served as manager of the restaurant that employed about 20 people since it opened Dec. 13, 2013, said he was notified of the closure Thursday morning. "I woke up to a text message this morning," Wolvovsky said.

Justin Shaw, of JCS Construction Group Inc., the development company and partial owner of CCP 409 Greenwich Ave LLC, confirmed the restaurant is indeed closed. In an email, Shaw said, "I do not plan to provide reasons for closing, I will let you know next steps once I have them wrapped up."

Elliot partnered with Executive Chef and Managing Partner Merlin Verrier, who was director of operations of Elliot's Chicago restaurant, and developed a menu of contemporary American seasonal cuisine, according to Connecticut Lifestyle magazine

Elliot was named one of Food & Wine Magazine's "Best New Chef" in 2004, has earned several James Beard Foundation nominations and as was named one of Crain's Chicago Business list of "40 Under Forty", according to his website.

An email message seeking comment was not immediately answered Thursday evening. 

Wolvovsky said he already has some job offers. "Life goes on — you have to be positive," he added.


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