Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter’s plan to relaunch the Beatrice Inn is turning into a brewing battle with a previous owner who, sources say, plans to sue over the hot spot’s vaunted name.
Sources tell Page Six that Paul Sevigny — who built the Beatrice into New York’s hottest club for three years till its 2009 closure — claims the Beatrice name was not properly transferred to Carter, and has hired a lawyer. Sources add Sevigny could seek more than $500,000 for the name.
“It’s an intellectual-property issue,” a nightlife insider said. “The [former owners] could make that amount if they threw three parties [under the Beatrice name]. It’s a name that could launch worldwide. The space, and Graydon, is capitalizing on the club’s reputation.”
Carter’s rep confirmed that he’s trying to set up a meeting with Sevigny, who could not be reached for comment, over the dispute.
But another source said that while there is “clearly a problem,” “the venue was known as the Beatrice Inn for 50 years” as an Italian restaurant, well before Sevigny took it over.
At the same time, sources say a Carter family dispute is what’s held up the reopening — because his 20-something son thinks the kitchen isn’t good enough yet.
“Graydon’s son Spike and [chef] Brian Nasworthy are not getting on,” a source says. “Spike claims the food isn’t good enough yet, and doesn’t want the same problem as Monkey Bar.” After a white-hot opening, Carter’s Monkey Bar brought in Spotted Pig whiz Ken Friedman last year for a foodie overhaul.
But a rep for Carter said of the Spike issue, “That’s not true,” adding he’ll be a host and oversee the Beatrice beer list. The restaurant begins friends-and-family meals next week, we’re told, though no official opening’s been set.
After Sevigny’s Beatrice — a stomping ground for fashion folks and cool kids including Kate Moss, Samantha Ronson, Malcolm McLaren, the Olsen twins and Kirsten Dunst — shuttered due to neighbor complaints, he launched LA’s Smoke & Mirrors and pop-up Paul & André.