Rocco’s Currently a Rocco-Free Zone

Season 2 of The Restaurant focused largely on a conflict between celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito and his business partner, Jeffrey Chodorow. Jeffrey was frustrated because the restaurant had consistently been losing money since it opened. He reacted by sending in his corporate task force to review and improve the operations of the restaurant. Rocco balked at his involvement.

In the final episode, Jeffrey gave Rocco two options: either he’d sell the restaurant to Rocco, or he’d buy out Rocco’s share in the restaurant. In an epilogue, we learned that the two men sued each other for control of the restaurant.

On Tuesday, July 27, Rocco and Jeffrey faced off in a two-day hearing. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Ira Gammerman made two preliminary decisions. First, he barred Rocco from entering Rocco’s on 22nd Street. Second, he told Jeffrey that he could walk away from the restaurant because it was operating in the red. Judge Gammerman told Jeffrey, “I don’t think you are obligated to run a restaurant that’s losing money.”

The case is not closed yet. Rocco and Jeffrey will return to court on August 31 for a trial to determine if they did have a legal partnership, and if so, if Rocco violated their agreement.

If Rocco loses the case, what will Rocco’s on 22nd be without Rocco? That remains to be seen. Jeffrey’s lawyer, Laurence Kaiser, told reporters that Jeffrey is considering selling the restaurant or re-opening it with another concept. We will keep you up to date on the news regarding this case as it happens.

Betsy is the Associate Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached with any comments at betsyw42@hotmail.com.

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