Latest news with #CarnegieDiner
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Infringe its trademarks, lawsuit claims
NEW YORK, May 20 (Reuters) - Carnegie Hall is suing the operator of several restaurants called the Carnegie Diner and Cafe, accusing it of infringing trademarks belonging to one of the world's most prestigious music venues. The nonprofit Carnegie Hall Corp, which manages the 134-year-old venue, said Efstathios Antonakopoulos has "taken every opportunity" to trade off its image and brand to promote his Carnegie Diners in Manhattan; Secaucus, New Jersey; and Vienna, Virginia, with a stated goal to franchise nationwide by 2029. Carnegie Hall objected to the restaurants featuring wall-size murals of its building and stage, selling T-shirts and other merchandise referencing the venue and referring to historic events such as appearances by singer Bob Dylan, soprano Maria Callas and civil rights leader Martin Luther King. The complaint filed on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court said this is confusing customers into believing Carnegie Hall and Carnegie Diners were connected, and that years of trying to resolve the matter amicably have been unsuccessful. It also quoted Antonakopoulos, who is known as Stathis, describing Carnegie Diner as paying "homage" to Carnegie Hall and people who appeared at the midtown Manhattan venue. One of the restaurants is located diagonally across the street. "This is no 'homage'; it is theft," the complaint said. Antonakopoulos and his company, Carnegie Hospitality, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. He became chief executive in 2019, according to the company's website. Carnegie Hall said in a statement: "We filed the suit to protect both Carnegie Hall's intellectual property rights and innocent consumers who are likely to mistakenly believe that the restaurants are related to Carnegie Hall." The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, a halt to further alleged infringements, and the cancellation of Carnegie Hospitality's registration, opens new tab with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for Carnegie Diner & Cafe restaurants. The case is Carnegie Hall Corp v Carnegie Hospitality LLC et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 25-04224.
CBS News
21-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Should NYC's congestion pricing stay or go? Commuters, businesses from across Tri-State Area weigh in
The legal fight over whether the Trump administration can stop New York City's congestion pricing plan could take months, if not years. So far, reaction from residents across the Tri-State Area about whether to keep or kill it seems to run the gamut. Commuters divided on cost vs. benefits of congestion pricing Some drivers say they have begrudgingly come to embrace the program, admitting it does lead to shorter commute times. Earlier this month, a new poll of 1,200 voters found 6 out of 10 New Yorkers want congestion pricing to stay. Leo Henriquez, who lives in the Bronx and commutes to New Jersey, supports congestion pricing. He says it means a better quality of life for him. "I have been living for more than 20 years in New York, and traffic is one of the major things in New York, especially holidays and when you want to go to certain places, traffic is a major thing," he said. For New Yorkers who work in the congestion zone every day, their support or opposition depends on how they get around. One restaurant server who takes the subway to work is in favor of the plan. "If they're using the money to invest and to improve the service, I think it's a good idea," he said. On the other hand, while some drivers have enjoyed the gridlock relief, many say the $9 price tag is too much to bear. "If you're living where I live, you're driving in, you're paying city tax on your check, now you're paying congestion tax, you're paying federal tax and you're paying state tax. How can a family, even if you're making $90,000 a year, you can't afford a house," Rockland County resident Thomas Gee said. He says all these expenses are making life difficult. "It's overkill, and that's why a lot of people are moving down south," he said. Fort Lee, New Jersey resident Alejandro Diaz says New Jersey residents like him contribute to New York's economy and shouldn't have to pay more. "It's expensive, and I don't know, the money, what people think of the money because I don't see change at city," he said. Business owner experiences both positive, negative impacts of congestion pricing Stathis Antonakopoulos, who owns Carnegie Diner with locations in New Jersey and New York, says congestion pricing impacted his businesses in opposite ways. "In [Manhattan], we noticed our dinner business on weekdays, Monday through Friday, to be going down from January 5 as [congestion pricing] started. We believe it's because a lot of the bridge and tunnel people, they stopped coming in Midtown," he said. He says while that's decreased his Manhattan business, his Secaucus, New Jersey restaurant saw a surprise boost with commuters dining closer to home. "That location, Monday through Friday, had a rise of 10 percent in sales for dinner time. January and February having an increase, it was really weird to us," Antonakopoulos said. He's also experienced the benefit as a commuter. "I do live in New Jersey and I come into the city. Coming in the morning into the city has been a blessing, has been a very fast commute," he said. But the time he saves from decreased traffic comes at a cost; the $9 daily toll below 60th to his delivery drivers and suppliers is expensive. "It's hurting us a lot. It's because in New York City, cost of doing business, it's really doubled," he said. With fewer diners in Midtown, his team has focused on attracting more tourists. One group at the diner Thursday was visiting from London, where congestion pricing has been in place for years. "In the UK, there's a massive shift towards getting everybody kind of more green and driving electric cars, whereas I think President Trump is [saying], 'We don't want that here,'" tourist Grant Clemente said. With the future of congestion pricing in limbo, businesses are still left wondering what comes next.
