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One of the longest-standing “gay restaurants” in New York City is closing its doors after 25 years.Elmo Restaurant, a legendary fixture in Chelsea, will serve its final meal on March 13, founder Bob Pontarelli said in a post on Instagram.The building that’s been home to Elmo for the past 25 years has been sold, according to Pontarelli, ending their long-standing lease.The new owners are set to turn it into a residential building.“For nearly 25 years, Elmo has been the destination for hundreds of thousands of guests to enjoy some of life’s best moments,” Pontarelli wrote.In the post, Pontarelli reminisced that the restaurant had been a neighborhood staple for late-night dinners, birthdays, Pride celebrations, drag shows, marriages between guests and also co-workers, memorial services, political fundraisers and more.“It’s been a place for a first date or dinner with friends.
A place for important celebrations and fabulous parties….or simply a place to gather comfortably with members of your community at a home away from home.Elmo has also been a space for hundreds of staff to build lifelong friendships,” Pontarelli continued.“Sadly, all things must come to an end and Elmo will serve its last meal on Friday, March 13.”Since opening in 2001, Elmo has thrived as a neighborhood hangout and an iconic LGBTQ+ destination.Chelsea was widely considered the heart of the gay community in Manhattan in the early 2000s.
Elmo became an “unofficial clubhouse,” as Time Out called it, welcoming queer New Yorkers into the dining room visibly and confidently.In a 2025 interview with Chelsea Community News, Pontarelli said it took him and his original co-founders, his late business partner and best friend Stephen Heighton and Bruce Hermann, almost two years to acquire the space for the restaurant on Seventh Ave.The restaurant quickly became an institution for New Yorkers with its diner-style restaurant, celebration space, and living room feel.Pontarelli noted...