HWH PR started out in 1977 directly across the street from the fabulous La Grenouille on East 52nd Street. Eliot and I spent a fortune entertaining clients who flew in from all over the world just to dine there.
The legendary French restaurant, located at 3 East 52nd Street, announced that it’s closing its doors this week.

We will never forget the day when hundreds of folks stood outside the restaurant to witness gossip columnist Liz Smith taking Ivana Trump to lunch at Le Grenouille after Donald ditched her for Marla Maples. Pandemonium broke out on the street just to get a glimpse of Ivana and Liz. The ladies wound up on the front page of the Daily News. We watched it all from our office windows.

Owner Philippe Masson, whose parents Charles and Gisele founded the French restaurant in 1962, will be pursuing other dreams.

La Grenouille has long been a New York institution, famed for its flower displays, gilded luxury and luminary clientele. Among its devotees were Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sidney Poitier, Salvador Dali, Sophia Loren, David Bowie, Truman Capote, Lee Radziwill a veritable who’s who of the world’s most beautiful and celebrated. The restaurant’s loyal patrons added to the glamour and exuberance that was always in the air at La Grenouille, where power lunches and grand dinners were for the elite. Thank you Roger Friedman for your words.