Trump Org. Settles Old Post Office Lawsuits With José Andrés, Geoffrey Zakarian

Jose Andres
Bisnow: Jon Banister
Celebrity Chef José Andrés At The Mgm National Harbor Grand Opening

After two years of legal battles over failed DC restaurant deals, the Trump Organization has settled two lawsuits with celebrity chefs in the last four days.

The company announced settlements with José Andrés on Friday and Geoffrey Zakarian on Monday, the Washington Post reports. The details of the settlements were not released.

The pair of lawsuits came after the chefs backed out of deals to open restaurants in Trump's DC hotel in the Old Post Office building, citing Trump's inflammatory rhetoric involving Mexican immigrants while campaigning for president. In both situations, Trump filed a $10M breach of contract lawsuit and the chefs filed countersuits.

After the two chefs backed out, Trump signed BLT Prime and chef David Burke to open a restaurant in the hotel. In November, the hotel signed popular Japanese chef Daisuke Nakazawa to open a second restaurant. On multiple occasions since taking office, Trump has dined at the BLT Prime, giving the property he owns significant press coverage.

The settlement of these legal disputes comes after the resolution of another major issue involving the hotel last month, when the GSA determined that Trump's business arrangement did not violate the hotel's lease.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Washington, D.C. Newsletters
Related Stories

Loudoun County Moves To Pause Data Center Applications For 12 Months

Why Top-Secret Facilities Are Permeating Greater D.C.'s Office Market

Historic Brooklyn Hotel To Be Turned Into Ritz-Carlton-Branded Condos

Daniel Negari Buys Downtown LA Hotel For $34M

Northern Virginia Office Tower Sells For Double Its 2024 Price

Design Plans Revealed For RFK Stadium Parking Garages, Headed To Review

Security Tech Firm Plans Loudoun HQ Move: The D.C. Deal Sheet

Luxury Marriott Hotel Will Take Space In Charlotte Office Conversion

D.C. Investor Behind The Stacks Swaps CEO For First Time In 25 Years

Pennsylvania Avenue Office Sells For Repositioning: The D.C. Deal Sheet

Republican Midterm Convention Could Fill More Than 5,000 Hotel Rooms In Dallas

Georgetown Waterfront Office-To-Condo Conversion Lands Financing