Danny Meyer

{{Short description|American restaurateur and writer (born 1958)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Danny Meyer

| image = Danny Meyer FT Charity Wine Dinner 2010.jpg

| caption = Meyer in 2010

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|03|14|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = Trinity College, Hartford

| occupation = Restaurateur

| television =

| spouse = Audrey Rayelyn Heffernan

| awards =

| website = {{url|ushg.com}} (his business)

}}

Daniel Meyer (born March 14, 1958) is a New York City restaurateur and the founder and executive chairman of the Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG).

Background and early career

Meyer was born and raised in a reform Jewish family in St. Louis, Missouri{{cite news|url=https://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2009/12/the-kings-of-hospitality-alain-ducasse-and-danny-meyer-on-tk.html|title=Two Wise Men|last=Kahn|first=Howie|work=GQ|quote=" I grew up in a reform Jewish family in St. Louis. Our idea of Judaism was no Bar mitzvahs and a Christmas tree that had a skirt at the bottom embroidered with the names of my grandparents"}} the son of Roxanne (née Harris) and Morton L. Meyer.{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= Daniel Meyer Fiance Of Audrey Heffernan |newspaper=The New York Times|date= April 17, 1988|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/17/style/daniel-meyer-fiance-of-audrey-heffernan.html |via=|archive-url=| archive-date=|quote=Mr. Meyer, a son of Roxanne Harris Frank of Ladue, Mo., and Morton L. Meyer of Clayton, Mo., graduated from the John Burroughs School and Trinity College in Hartford. . His grandfather Irving B. Harris, of Chicago, is chairman of the Pittway Corporation, a diversified concern.}} His father was the president of a travel, hospitality and real estate company in St. Louis. His grandfather was Chicago businessman and philanthropist, Irving B. Harris.

He attended John Burroughs School and as a child, Meyer attended Camp Nebagamon for boys in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. During college, Meyer worked for his father as a tour guide in Rome and then returned there to study international politics. Meyer was a Brother of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity while at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. After graduating from Trinity in 1980 with a degree in political science,{{cite news|title=Times Topics - Danny Meyer|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/m/danny_meyer/index.html | work=The New York Times | first=Florence|last=Fabricant}} Meyer worked in Chicago as Cook County field director for John Anderson's 1980 independent presidential campaign.

Meyer gained his first restaurant experience in 1984 as an assistant manager at Pesca, an Italian seafood restaurant in the Flatiron District of New York City. He then returned to Europe to study cooking as a culinary stagiaire in Italy and Bordeaux, France.{{cite news|title=Danny Meyer|url= http://topics.wsj.com/person/m/danny-meyer/5885|access-date=4 October 2011 | work=The Wall Street Journal}}

Career

In 1985, at age 27, Meyer opened his first restaurant, Union Square Cafe.{{cite web|url=http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Your-Business/Pearls-of-Wisdom/Danny-Meyer-Pearls-of-Wisdom|title=Danny Meyer interview|work=BigHospitality.co.uk|access-date=2012-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116175837/http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Your-Business/Pearls-of-Wisdom/Danny-Meyer-Pearls-of-Wisdom|archive-date=2013-01-16|url-status=dead}} Meyer's other restaurants and businesses include Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke and Jazz Standard, Shake Shack, Daily Provisions, Ci Siamo, The Modern, Cafe 2 and Terrace 5 at MoMA, Maialino (formerly at the Gramercy Park Hotel), Untitled at the North End Grill, Marta, Porchlight, GreenRiver, Union Square Events, and Hospitality Quotient.{{cite news|last=Wilsey|first=Sean |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/magazine/danny-meyer-is-on-a-roll.html?pagewanted=all |title=A Movable Feast: Danny Meyer on a Roll |publisher=The Times Magazine|date= 2011-08-04 |access-date=2011-09-07}} Union Square Events, USHG's catering division, operates several concessions at major sports facilities including Citi Field, Saratoga Race Course, and Nationals Park.{{cite news|last=Sutton|first=Ryan|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ai70gD0VoQUY |title=Citi Field's $48 VIP Meal, Shake Shack Burgers, Beer: Food Buzz|publisher=Bloomberg.com|date= 2009-04-22 |access-date=2011-09-07}}

In 2010, Meyer suffered his first restaurant closure, Tabla. In a statement, Meyer blamed the closure on the specificity of the Indian cuisine offered by the restaurant.{{cite news|last=Grayce West|first=Melanie |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2010/09/30/with-tablas-closure-danny-meyer-tastes-first-defeat/ |title=With Tabla's Closure, Danny Meyer Tastes First Defeat|publisher=Bloomberg.com|date= 2010-09-30 |access-date=2019-09-30}} That same year, Meyer participated in a documentary called "The Restaurateur".{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1778357/|title=The Restaurateur (2010)|website=IMDB}}{{Cite web|url=https://ny.eater.com/2010/5/10/6734119/a-look-at-the-danny-meyer-documentary-the-restaurateur|title=A Look at the Danny Meyer Documentary The Restaurateur| date=10 May 2010 }}

In late 2011, Union Square Hospitality group sold Eleven Madison Park to its chef Daniel Humm and front-of-house director Will Guidara.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/25/chef-floyd-cardoz-dies-at-59-of-coronavirus-complications.html|title=Danny Meyer Confirms Eleven Madison Park Sale|author=Amanda Kludt|date=4 October 2011|work=Eater NY}} In 2018, North End Grill closed.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/25/chef-floyd-cardoz-dies-at-59-of-coronavirus-complications.html|title=Chef Floyd Cardoz dies at 59 of coronavirus complications|agency=Associated Press|date=25 March 2020|work=Associated Press}}

In 2015, Meyer announced that he would eliminate tipping at all of his restaurants.{{cite news |last= Steiner |first= Keenan|date=October 19, 2017 |title=As Danny Meyer Continues to Eliminate Tips, His Staff Struggles to Adapt

|url=https://www.grubstreet.com/2017/10/danny-meyer-no-tips-staff-expectations.html |work= Eater NY|location=New York |access-date=Feb 6, 2020}} The move increased prices by approximately 21 percent and led to large portions of his staff leaving the company.{{cite news |last=Dai |first=Serena |date=February 6, 2018 |title=Danny Meyer Admits Large Portion of Staff Left Over No-Tipping Changes |url=https://ny.eater.com/2018/2/6/16978464/danny-meyer-tipping-staff-turnover |work= Eater NY|location=New York |access-date=Feb 6, 2020}}

=COVID-19 response and Paycheck Protection Program relief=

As COVID-19 swept through the United States, Meyer shuttered all his restaurants, criticized other businesses for opening, and stated that he did not expect to offer full service until a vaccine was available.{{Cite web |url=https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/13/21177632/coronavirus-ushg-restaurant-closures-untitled-the-modern-gramercy-tavern |title=Union Square Hospitality Group Closes All Restaurants in Response to Coronavirus |last= Dai|first=Serena|date=March 13, 2020 |website=eater |language=en |access-date=2020-07-11}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/ceo-danny-meyer-coronavirus-reopening-union-square|title=CEO Danny Meyer slams coronavirus reopening for NYC restaurant group: Report|agency=Associated Press|date=25 March 2020|author=Cortney Moore|work=Fox Business}} In a May 1 Vanity Fair podcast, Meyer explained that taking a Paycheck Protection Program loan, intended to help small businesses, "could be the most irresponsible thing in the world for a restaurant to do." In July, it emerged that twelve separate Meyer restaurants received loans. Meyer's company, Union Square Hospitality Group, received between $11.4 and $27 million in PPP loans.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-11/danny-meyer-took-ppp-loans-and-he-is-not-apologizing-for-it |title=Danny Meyer Took PPP Loans After All. And He's Not Apologizing |last= Krader|first=Kate|date=July 11, 2020 |website=Bloomberg |language=en |access-date=2020-07-11}} Shake Shack earlier claimed to return its PPP assistance following media attention."{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/20/838439215/shake-shack-returns-10-million-loan-to-u-s-program-for-small-businesses |title=Shake Shack Returns $10 Million Loan To U.S. Program For Small Businesses |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=April 20, 2020 |website=NPR.org |language=en |access-date=2020-04-21}}

Writings

{{Library resources box

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Meyer co-wrote The Union Square Cafe Cookbook (HarperCollins, 1994) with his business partner, Chef Michael Romano. The book earned the IACP Julia Child Award for the best new cookbook by a first-time author, and was followed up with the highly acclaimed Second Helpings from Union Square Cafe (HarperCollins, 2001). Meyer also wrote The New York Times bestseller Setting the Table (HarperCollins, 2006), which examines the power of hospitality in restaurants, business, and life. In May 2009, Meyer's restaurants released a cocktail cookbook, Mix Shake Stir (Little, Brown) featuring 140 recipes, along with tips, anecdotes and photography.{{cite web|title=Hachette Book Group|url=http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316045124.htm|access-date=4 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118063832/http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316045124.htm|archive-date=18 January 2012|url-status=dead}}

Community activism

Meyer has served on the boards of Share Our Strength and City Harvest.{{cite web|title=At the Chef's Table: Restaurant Partners |url=http://www.cityharvest.org/restaurant-partners/at-the-chefs-table/danny-meyer/|access-date=12 September 2011}} In addition, he served as Co-Chair of the Union Square Partnership for five years,{{cite web|title=Danny Meyer Turns Over Helm of Union Square Partnership|url=http://www.dnainfo.com/20110523/murray-hill-gramercy/danny-meyer-turns-over-helm-of-union-square-partnership|access-date=12 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827082146/http://www.dnainfo.com/20110523/murray-hill-gramercy/danny-meyer-turns-over-helm-of-union-square-partnership|archive-date=27 August 2011}} and as an executive committee member for NYC & Co and the Madison Square Park Conservancy.{{cite news|title=Danny Meyer |url= http://topics.wsj.com/person/M/danny-meyer/5885

|access-date=12 September 2011 | work=The Wall Street Journal}}

Ratings and reviews

Four of USHG's restaurants have earned three stars from The New York Times; Eleven Madison Park was upgraded to four stars in 2009. USHG's restaurants routinely appear among the Most Popular in New York City according to the Zagat guide, including Union Square Cafe, which has held the #1 spot nine times.{{cite news|last=Wilsey|first=Sean|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/magazine/danny-meyer-is-on-a-roll.html?pagewanted=all |title=A Movable Feast: Danny Meyer on a Roll |publisher=The Times Magazine|date= 2011-08-04 |access-date=2011-09-07}} Eleven Madison Park held three Michelin Stars, The Modern earned its second Michelin Star in 2015, Gramercy Tavern holds one Michelin Star,{{cite web|url=http://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/10/michelin_guide_unleashed_three_stars_for_eleven_madison_park_brooklyn_fare.php|title=Michelin Guide Unleashed| date=4 October 2011 |publisher=Eater NY|access-date=2011-10-04}} and GreenRiver was awarded one Michelin Star in 2016. In 2016, The Modern was awarded a Wine Spectator Grand Award in 2016.

=Awards=

Meyer and USHG have won 28 James Beard Foundation Awards.{{cite web|title=James Beard Foundation web|url=http://www.jamesbeard.org/index.php?q=james_beard_past_award |access-date=12 September 2011}}{{failed verification|date=June 2016}}

2018 Workplace Legacy Award{{cite web|url=https://tdn2k.com/blog/danny-meyer-2018-workplace-legacy/| title=Iconic Restaurant Industry Leader, Danny Meyer, To Receive 2018 TDn2K Workplace Legacy Award |access-date=11 January 2018}}
2017 Julia Child Award from The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts{{Cite web |last=Chris |title=Recipients |url=https://juliachildaward.com/recipients/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=The Julia Child Award |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Judkis |first=Maura |date=July 18, 2017 |title=Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer wins the Julia Child Award |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/food/wp/2017/07/18/shake-shack-founder-danny-meyer-wins-the-julia-child-award/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}
2013 Pennsylvania State University School of Hospitality Management Conti Professor, Fall Semester{{cite web|url=http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/shm/news/news |title=Penn State's School of Hospitality Management Names Danny Meyer as Conti Professor |publisher=hhdev.psu.edu |access-date=2014-08-13}}

Podcast appearances

Meyer was interviewed by Reid Hoffman on the Masters of Scale podcast, where he talked about how he ignored conventional wisdom to revolutionize the restaurant industry.{{Cite web|url=https://mastersofscale.com/danny-meyer-when-and-how-to-ignore-conventional-wisdom/|title=Danny Meyer – Masters of Scale|website=WaitWhat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-14}} He appeared on The Ringer's House of Carbs Podcast, where he presented his Washington D.C. establishment "Maialino Mare" and talked about his career in hospitality.{{Cite web|url=https://art19.com/shows/house-of-carbs/episodes/84f09575-98f0-4f0b-a7d6-1706d9766a9b/|title=The Delicious Business of Danny Meyer|website=The Ringer House of Carbs|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-20}} Danny Meyer most recently appeared on The Knowledge Project Podcast to discuss the intersection between hospitality and humanity, and why we’re all invested in the hospitality business.{{Cite web|title=The Knowledge Project Podcast|url=https://fs.blog/knowledge-project/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Farnam Street|language=en-US}} He talked food, love and business on the Gary Vee Audio Experience Podcast.{{Cite web |title=The GaryVee Audio Experience: Food, Love & Business with Danny Meyer on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/food-love-business-with-danny-meyer/id928159684?i=1000630276251 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}

Book reviews

The Union Square Cafe Cookbook was described in the New York Journal of Books as "...expertly adapted for home use and offers many dishes worth trying and adding to your repertoire."{{cite web|url=http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/review/union-square-caf%C3%A9-cookbook-160-recipes-new-york%E2%80%99s-acclaimed-restaurant|author=Penny Pleasance|title=Book review: The Union Square Café Cookbook: 160 Recipes from New York's Acclaimed Restaurant|work=New York Journal of Books}}

Personal life

In 1988, Meyer married Audrey Rayelyn Heffernan in an interfaith Roman Catholic and Jewish service at Unitarian Church of All Souls in Manhattan.{{Cite news |date=1988-08-28 |title=Daniel Meyer Weds Audrey Heffernan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/28/style/daniel-meyer-weds-audrey-heffernan.html |access-date=2025-05-26 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} He has a daughter, Hallie Meyer, who founded Caffè Panna, an ice cream shop in New York City.[https://mastersofscale.com/masters-of-scale-live-danny-meyer-with-caffe-pannas-hallie-meyer/ Masters of Scale Live: Danny Meyer with Caffè Panna’s Hallie Meyer] November 28, 2024