S
elene by Kyma, a 10,000‑sq‑ft seafood‑focused restaurant, will open in the former James hotel at 23 Grand St., now the ModernHaus Soho. The venture is a joint effort between James Ragonese, ex‑LDV Hospitality, and Reno Christou, co‑founder of Kyma’s Greek chain. Meridian Capital’s James Famularo, representing landlord Thor Equities, noted that the space attracted dozens of competitive bids before Selene was chosen for its pedigree and vision. Tenant representation was handled by Justin Bustamante of Meridian. The lease is set at $90 per square foot.
Kyma already operates in Flatiron, Hudson Yards, Roslyn, NY, and West Palm Beach. Thor Equities’ chairman Joseph Sitt praised the deal as a boon for the neighborhood, the hotel, and New York’s hospitality scene. The ModernHaus, originally the James, was purchased by Thor in 2017 but closed during the pandemic; it was later refinanced with a $53.5 million loan from Argentic.
In other Midtown news, SL Green’s 919 Third Ave. has reached full occupancy after a 66,100‑sq‑ft expansion by the New York State Office of General Services (OGS). The 15‑year lease now places OGS at 117,390 sq ft in the tower. The 1.5‑million‑sq‑ft building also hosts Bloomberg LP (expanded to 925,000 sq ft), Schulte Roth & Zabel, and the famed P.J. Clarke’s on East 55th Street. CBRE teams led by Stephen B. Siegel and Liz Lash represented OGS, while Robert and Ryan Alexander represented SL Green.
