Sheldon (Shelly) Fireman, a prolific New York City restaurateur, sculptor and designer, died Thursday at age 93.
Through his Fireman Hospitality Group, he operated a number of longstanding restaurants, including well-known dining destinations such as Fiorello Café (51 years), Trattoria Dell’Arte (37 years), Brooklyn Diner (30 years) and Redeye Grill (29 years)—all currently open. Into his 90s, he was still launching concepts, including Café Fiorello DC, Paris Bar and Le Jardin. His restaurants were large and widely appealing, located in high-traffic neighborhoods like Lincoln Center, the Broadway Theater District and Carnegie Hall.
Fireman opened his first restaurant, The Hip Bagel, in 1963 in New York’s Greenwich Village. He went on to design restaurants in collaboration with famous artists including Peter Max, Milton Glaser and Red Grooms. Trattoria Dell’Arte is known as much for Glaser’s giant nose and lips sculptures on the wall as for its antipasto bar, craveable house-made pastas and warm cookies.
Hundreds of team members are employed annually by the Fireman Hospitality Group and the restaurateur himself is known as a loyal, family-oriented boss. Nearly every GM had been with him for over 20 years. He had also maintained decades-long relationships with local vendors.
The Fireman Hospitality Group will carry on the restaurateur’s legacy and continue operating the restaurants. Paris Bar in New York’s Meridian Hotel opened just this year.
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