Lee’s has everything we’d want from an event space in New York City: an airy, bright feel; minimalist wood furniture; a legit Downtown address; the ability to be dressed up or down depending on the event; not to mention a back-to-basics kitchen that isn’t basic in the least.
Photography courtesy of Lee’s.
The space is the brainchild of Nick Poe, an architectural designer and visual artist who was enamored with the idea of a dedicated private room, a place you could go to with friends and cook yourselves.
Poe designed all the wood tables and kitchen built-ins for Lee’s, which has a hybridized style best described as “industrial, country/farm, and Japanese,” he says.
Lee’s takes up the second and third floors and can accommodate up to 200 people.
The fully stocked chef’s kitchen. When we were building Lee’s, the landlord was demolishing another space upstairs that had all kinds of beautiful original character.
All the wood shelves and tables were designed by Poe.
“The glass-door fridge was bought at a used restaurant equipment dealer on the Bowery, run by a wonderfully gangster lady named Penny. I believe it is True brand, my favorite in commercial refrigeration,” says Poe. The industrial stove is from WebStaurantStore.com.
Poe looked to Balter Sales, on the Bowery, to provide the basic white plates and bowls.
The green door is original to the building and was left untouched.
“Where the original wood had rotted, I filled it in with tile instead of wood, in whatever shaped was needed,” says Poe.
The wood daybed is another homage to Donald Judd.
Large windows and oversized mirrors provide plenty of light.
The third floor has no attached kitchen but does have a bar.