In a tale of redemption, celebrity vegan chef and cookbook author Chloe Coscarelli has opened her new vegan restaurant, CHLOE, at 185 Bleecker Street in New York City, the original site of her first restaurant, By Chloe.
“I promised myself that someday, somehow, I would return. And when I did, it would be on my own terms.”
Coscarelli, the first vegan chef to win Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” co-founded By Chloe with Samantha Wasser of ESquared Hospitality in 2015. The restaurant, which opened its first location in Greenwich Village, quickly gained recognition for its plant-based menu, leading to rapid expansion across New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and internationally to London and Canada.
An abrupt halt
In March 2017, a legal dispute arose between Coscarelli and her business partners at ESquared Hospitality over the brand’s direction. According to the lawsuit, the company wanted to mass-produce her creations, and she did not. The court sided with ESquared, resulting in Coscarelli’s departure from the company.
On social media, Coscarelli recently noted, “It was an abrupt halt to what had otherwise been a magical experience. Standing on the corner of Bleecker and MacDougal, I promised myself that someday, somehow, I would return. And when I did, it would be on my own terms.”
By Chloe continued to grow after her departure, securing $31 million in 2019 for expansion. However, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the business, leading the parent company, BC Hospitality Group, to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2020.
The brand was rebranded as Beatnic in August 2021 after some of the original investors bought out By Chloe’s assets. Fast forward to April 2024, and all the remaining locations were sold to the Indian food chain Inday, and the company plans to turn them into Inday restaurants.
A new beginning
In July 2023, Coscarelli discovered that her original By Chloe location was available for rent. She secured the space with support from celebrity chef Tom Colicchio and his group, Crafted Hospitality, whom she’s been partnering with since 2017. And nearly one year later, on July 16, 2024, she opened the doors to Chloe.
The all-day café offers classic vegan dishes made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients. The menu includes house-made plant-based burgers made from mushrooms, walnuts, and soy, along with salads, appetizers, cookies and cakes. A highlight is the Hot Italian burger, featuring spicy Italian meatballs, arrabbiata, cashew mozzarella, hot cherry tomato jam, basil pesto, and almond parmesan.
The grand opening of Chloe was a success, drawing a substantial crowd. Grub Street reported lines extending down the street, and the interior was bustling with patrons.
Coscarelli announced on social media, “I’m beyond ecstatic to announce the official grand opening of my new restaurant, CHLOE—located at 185 Bleecker Street, the same corner where I opened By Chloe exactly nine years ago. CHLOE is an all-day café serving classic eats with thoughtfully sourced ingredients (all vegan, of course!).”
