WASHINGTON — Just days after the Trump Organization and Chef Jose Andres’ ThinkFoodGroup announced a settlement in their dueling lawsuits over Andres’ decision to pull out of plans for a Trump International Hotel restaurant, a settlement of a similar dispute involving celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian has been announced.
Like the Andres settlement, terms of the Zakarian settlement weren’t disclosed.
“I am glad that we were able to work together cooperatively to put this matter behind us and wish Trump International the very best going forward,” said Louis Ceruzzi, the New York real estate developer who had agreed to back Zakarian’s restaurant.
Ceruzzi’s BVS Acquisition Co. LLC was named in the lawsuit, as was Zakarian’s company CZ-National LLC.
“After an intense, two-year legal battle, we are pleased we were able to amicably resolve our differences and wish Geoffrey continued success,” said The Trump Organization in a statement.
Andres canceled plan for a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel, in Washington, over then- candidate Donald Trump’s campaign-trail comments about immigrants.
Zakarian announced he was canceling plans for a hotel restaurant shortly thereafter.
Restaurant BLT Prime is the hotel’s main restaurant, taking the space originally planned for Andres’ restaurant.
