Chef David Burke abruptly left his own eponymous company Wednesday night under mysterious circumstances.
Sources tell us the popular chef — whose empire includes David Burke Townhouse, David Burke Kitchen, David Burke Fishtail, a string of steakhouses across the country and a casual cafe at Bloomingdale’s — announced to his company the David Burke Group that he was stepping down from day-to-day operations immediately, but would still remain an owner.
A source told us, “David was not pushed out. This was his own decision. David says he wants to work on other partnerships and projects, but nobody knows what those things are.”
Amid rumors that he took a month off before the holidays, sparking speculation about the reason, our source insisted, “He did not go to rehab, he was filming ‘Top Chef.’ ” Others speculate that Burke’s departure — just two weeks before he is due to open new restaurant David Burke Fabrick at the Archer Hotel in Midtown — could be related to the November 2013 appointment of Stephen Goglia to CEO of David Burke Group.
Goglia joined the company in 2011 as COO and became president, overseeing expansion plans.
Burke has been involved in a few lawsuits, most notably in 2009 when he allegedly “punched his driver repeatedly and slammed his head in the trunk of the car,” in a suit that described Burke as “a bit of a loose cannon.”
Burke denied the charges. A statement from his company reads, “David Burke is still involved as an active owner of David Burke Group. He will be a participant in the overall company logistics, but he has relinquished his day-to-day duties. All operations will continue to be managed by . . . Stephen Goglia.”