It’s a supposed last hurrah for Con Sofrito, the Bronx joint co-owned by the NYPD commissioner’s brother and frequented by Mayor Adams and other pols, before it’s being forced to shut down over an illegal party room it operated.
The owners of Con Sofrito in Westchester Square trumpeted word of a bash set for Friday at the restaurant on social media. “Con Sofrito: The Last Dance (The Closing Celebration),” a flyer for the party reads. “Our last weekend to create life lasting memories at Con Sofrito.” A second party is slated for Sunday. “Sunday is going to be the last day,” a second flyer states.
The restaurant and club was ordered to shut down in a court-ordered settlement after the landlord objected to a party room on the premises that did not have required city permits. A notice of eviction was issued on Aug. 7 to be executed by city marshals on Aug. 22, a copy of that notice indicates.
“If you do not vacate the location listed above within 14 days after the date of this notice, you may be evicted without further notice,” the document reads.
The eviction stems from a court fight that started in 2023 between the landlord, Joseph Dedona, and his company 1315 Commerce LLC, and the partnership that owns the restaurant, which includes Richard Caban, a brother of Police Commissioner Edward Caban, and Bronx businessman Jimmy Rodriguez.
In February, a lawyer for 1315 Commerce filed a motion with the court alleging the restaurant partners had built the illegal party room in violation of their lease.
To avoid eviction over the motion, Richard Caban and his partners agreed in a court-approved settlement in February to close Con Sofrito permanently by Aug. 31 and dismantle the party room by March 1, a development first reported by the Daily News.
But Caban and Rodriguez delayed tearing it down. The illegal structure was finally removed in early June.
The delay prompted the landlord’s attorney to demand the Aug. 31 vacate order be moved up so Con Sofrito could be evicted immediately. On July 29, a judge denied a last-ditch effort by Con Sofrito to reject the landlord’s demand, triggering the eviction notice.
Asked whether this weekend’s parties are kosher despite the court order, a Buildings Department spokesman said the certificate of occupancy indicates it is a legal eating and drinking establishment with occupancy for 200 people. There are currently no DOB-issued vacate orders in effect at the location, and DOB has not received any recent 311 complaints nor any interagency referrals, the spokesman said.
The FDNY did not reply to a request for comment.
Asked whether the mayor will attend this weekend’s events, an Adams spokeswoman said, “We don’t advise the mayor’s schedule ahead of time since it’s subject to change but do appraise the media of his official schedule when it’s published the day before. No event is confirmed until it appears on the mayor’s schedule.”
An attorney for the landlord did not return multiple requests for comment on this weekend’s planned parties. The law firm representing Con Sofrito did not reply to an email.
In addition to Adams and Commissioner Caban, the restaurant has been frequented by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Attorney General Letitia James as well as NYPD brass. Adams celebrated his 63rd birthday at the joint in September 2023.
