closings

Keith McNally’s 14-Year-Old Schiller’s Will Close

Photo: Gavin Thomas

Since opening in 2003, Schiller’s Liquor Bar has helped shape the Lower East Side, bringing steak frites and Keith McNally’s eye for ambience to a neighborhood that wasn’t so popular for dining. (As with the Odeon in Tribeca, this is McNally’s specialty.) Now, after 14 years, he’ll close Schiller’s in August, and the reason is simple — in a letter to customers, his restaurant groups says, “Unfortunately, come to the end of our lease.”

Schiller’s was often more polarizing than McNally’s other restaurants — courting community-board drama, and even creating tension between professional food writers. The McNally Group, whose latest hit is Augustine, does tease a new venture while writing of its departure: “We send our thanks to every single customer and staff member and look forward to seeing you all at the next place (TBA)!”

Keith McNally’s 14-Year-Old Schiller’s Will Close