On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with David Helbraun, founding partner and chairman of Helbraun Levey, a New York hospitality law firm representing restaurants, bars, hotels, and nightlife operators across the city.
Before becoming a lawyer, David spent years in the restaurant industry himself, first behind the bar and later as the owner of Pyramid Coffee Company, a multi-unit Manhattan café chain. In this conversation, he brings both perspectives to the table, breaking down what restaurant operators actually look for when evaluating a New York City space.
David walks through the practical and legal considerations that can make or break a restaurant deal, from liquor license restrictions, outdoor dining, landmark issues, ventilation, electricity, basements, and second-generation spaces to the informal broker networks that often determine who gets access to the best locations before they ever hit the market.
The conversation also explores the pressures facing restaurants today, including labor shortages, rising costs, landlord leverage, delivery platforms, restaurant group consolidation, and why the future of New York dining may look very different from the fine-dining era that came before it.
To learn more about David Helbraun and Helbraun Levey, visit helbraunlevey.com.
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