Upper West Side: Telepan’s New Wine Bar in Doubt

Veteran Upper West Side chef and restaurateur Bill Telepan is throwing cold water on reports that he hopes to open a wine bar on Columbus Avenue.

Photo: http://www.telepan-ny.com/gallery.htmColumbus Avenue.

Last week, the New York Times reported that the chef was actively looking at the space that was once occupied by Elite Cafe on Columbus Avenue between 68th and 69th streets. The location is right around the corner from Telepan’s existing eatery at 72 W. 69th Street.

But now, the plan to open a wine bar seems to be up in the air.

“I’m not locked in,” Telepan said in a phone interview, adding “I may walk away from it in the next week or two.”

Telepan said he’s trying to raise money and that he’s talking to his lawyers about the expansion plan. One reason it may be in doubt, at least for right now, is that the chef expects commercial rents in the area to continue to soften.

“Space will become available,” he predicts. “Rentals will be a bit more reasonable” in the coming months.