Minor launching The Wolseley in NYC

NEW YORK CITY – Bangkok-based Minor Hotels has made a big move into New York City with a deal to bring London’s famed Wolseley brand to the city with a 76-room hotel that will take over the existing Chatwal Hotel on 44th Street by early 2027.

The Wolseley Hotel New York will mark the brand’s first hotel worldwide and also introduce The Wolseley restaurant and bar to the United States. Minor will operate the property under a management agreement with no equity stake.

Minor said the New York flagship establishes the foundation for a selective and deliberate global rollout, with future properties planned in major cities across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Ben-Josef Group Holdings (BJGH), a New York-based developer and property owner, acquired the ground lease for this Midtown West hotel for $53.2 million in October 2025 and is the developer of The Wolseley. The property was previously part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt and had faced foreclosure prior to the BJGH acquisition.

Aviv Laurence, CEO of BJGH, said, “Introducing The Wolseley restaurant and bar to the United States through our New York flagship is a defining moment. Together with Minor Hotels, we are creating a destination that celebrates heritage, hospitality, and the enduring appeal of classic European luxury.”

The hotel occupies the landmark building at 130 West 44th Street, originally constructed in 1905 as the clubhouse for The Lambs Club.

At the heart of the property will be The Wolseley New York, serving as the social center of the hotel. The restaurant will carry forward the grand café tradition and polished European sensibility established by The Wolseley Piccadilly, offering all-day dining, signature cocktails, and a vibrant yet refined atmosphere, according to Minor.

Complementing the restaurant will be an intimate cellar-level speakeasy bar along with a fully reimagined wellness and wellbeing center that reflects the brand’s commitment to holistic luxury and guest comfort.

Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International, parent company of Minor Hotels, commented, “The launch of The Wolseley Hotels marks an exciting new chapter for Minor Hotels. Inspired by the enduring success of The Wolseley in London, our vision is to create hotels anchored in culinary excellence, architectural character, and a genuine sense of occasion. The Wolseley Hotel New York establishes our first flagship and sets the standard for the brand’s global expansion.”

In early 2022, Minor International took control full of Corbin & King, original operators of London’s The Wolseley, by pushing it into administration and winning a bidding war, following legal disputes with Co-founder Jeremy King. Minor International initially took 74% of the Wolseley in 2017.