Stephen Starr: Difference between revisions

Stephen Starr is the owner of several restaurants in Philadelphia, New York City, and Atlantic City.^[1] All of these restaurants are part of the Starr Restaurant Organization.^[2]

He began working in the restaurant industry at the age of 21 when he opened his first club in an Old City diner, Grand Mom Minnie's, which served food during the day and comedy at night. Next he opened Stars, a cabaret/restaurant that featured acts who were just starting out, such as Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Belzer and Pat Benatar.

Continuing to promote live entertainment, Starr opened a larger venue, the Ripley Music Hall, which showcased new talent such as U2, The Eurythmics, Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen, who were still very small at the time. Eventually he began The Concert Company to bring large-scale stadium acts to Philadelphia. Starr was responsible for memorable shows including Madonna, Lionel Richie, George Michael and others. In 1990, when Electric Factory Concerts bought him out, he used the profit to open several new venues including: Shake, Burger and Roll, a kitschy diner; The Bank, a trendy dance club which later became Transit Nightclub; and Cafe Republic (2201 South Street), a Russian-themed caviar and vodka bar.^[3]

Stephen was the guest judge on the Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef : Season 5. ^[4]

• The Continental- Opened September 1995. Restored stainless steel 1960s diner located in the Old City section. The restaurant offers sensational cocktails and global tapas.
• Buddakan - Opened 1998. Chef is Scott Swiderski.
• Tangerine - Opened January 2000.
• Pod - Opened October 2000. Original chef was Michael Schulson.
• Alma De Cuba - Opened April 2001.
• Morimoto - Opened October 2001. Co-owned by Chef Morimoto of Iron Chef fame.
• El Vez - Opened November 2003.
• Continental Midtown - Opened July 2004.
• Barclay Prime - Opened October 2004.
• Jones -
• Parc - Opened July 14, 2008. French cafe, bistro, brasserie.
• Butcher & Singer - Opened October 27, 2008. High-end steakhouse.

• Morimoto
• Buddakan

Note - Stephen Starr, the restaurant owner, although active in New York City (among other locations) is a different person than Stephen Z. Starr, the New York City based bankruptcy attorney (although they share the same spellings of their first and last names).^[5]

• Continental - located in Caesar's Pier
• Buddakan - located in Caesar's Pier
• Chelsea Prime - located in Chelsea Hotel
• Teplitzky's - located in Chelsea Hotel

• Littleneck - Oysterhouse, located at 706 Chestnut street
• Unnamed Broad Street Diner - located at old Broad Street Diner
• Unnamed Mexican Restaurant - competitor to Jose Garces' Distrito in University City section in Fall 2008.
• Unnamed restaurant on Washington Square - located at now-closed Washington Square Restaurant
• Unnamed Izakaya restaurant - located at 16th and Locust, Japanese bar/tapas with old Pod chef Zama Tanaka^[6]

• Cafe Republic
• Washington Square (June 2004-November 2007)^[7] - Head chef was Marcus Samuelsson.
• Striped Bass (November 2003 (when purchased) - June 2008) ^[8]
• Angelina (2003-2005) - 1960's Italian^[9]
• L'Ange Bleu (Blue Angel) (September 1999-2003) - Authentic French cuisine

• Chelsea Hotel^[10]
• Unnamed Philadelphia Hotel - located above 706 Chestnut
• Unnamed Manhattan Hotel