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Will Guidara, US restaurateur and co-founder of the Welcome Conference, has plans to build a luxury hotel and restaurant complex in upstate New York, it has been revealed. This marks his first major project since his abrupt split from Eleven Madison Park partner Daniel Humm, nearly two years ago.
Times Union reports that Guidara is planning a luxury retreat called Second Mountain in the Hudson Valley, complete with a mansion converted into hotel rooms, two restaurants, residential cottages, glamping and a farm. Migdale Castle would form the centrepiece of the surrounding 350-acre estate located in Millbrook, a small country village 80 miles north of Manhattan.
Guidara, a seasoned hospitality professional, has already shared his ideas for the restaurants: “One fancy, one casual, where hopefully, all of you, if you’re in the mood for a martini on a Wednesday night, that’s where you might want to go.” The project is estimated to create over 100 hospitality jobs in the process.
The plans are undergoing an extensive public review process and could take up to a year to get off the ground if eventually approved. The development has already faced some opposition from local residents, with Guidara trying to appease any fears by highlighting his commitment to building a new home and life for his family outside of New York City in a post-pandemic world. “I’m not an NYC developer that’s looking to do something here and run it from afar. I want to become a part of the community, and I want to make sure what I build happens for Millbrook and not to Millbrook,” he told the planning board.
Watch this space.
