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When Vincent Sardi Jr. came out of retirement to re-assume control of his famed namesake restaurant, he found the once-glamorous haven for Broadway theater greats in a sad state of disrepair.
On the ground level Mr. Sardi met a bucket brigade dotting the floor of the 700-seat room--repositories for the steady stream of water dripping from the stained ceiling overhead. Meanwhile, upstairs in one of the banquet rooms, waiters were serving coffee from Styrofoam cups.
"It was one of my saddest moments," recalls Mr. Sardi.
The effusive Mr. Sardi says he used that dark moment to give him the energy to jump-start the eatey his father opened back in 1921. Now two years and roughly $500,000 later, Sardi's is beginning to show signs of its former self.
A weekday afternoon finds Mr. Sardi and his general manager of 17 years, V. Max Klimavicius, proudly working the room. While the lunchtime patrons hardly reflect the stellar wall of caricatures that made Sardi's famous, Jackie Mason and several producers can be spotted among the few dozen diners.
Revenue has increased roughly 25 over last year and is expected to reach an estimated $6 million by year end. Banquets and parties, too, are on the rise. Just last week Sardi's was the scene of an opening night fete for the National Actors Theater.
"Sardi's is still important to the theater industry," says Manny Kladitis, executive producer of National Actors. "With Vince's return I think the industry will come back too."
But the support of the old guard may not be enough for Sardi's. Much has changed since its host's...