After several years under the radar, BR Guest founder, Stephan Hanson has partnered up with the new Life Hotel.

The man who founded the company who gave you restaurants like the Atlantic Grill, Blue Fin, Strip House, and Dos Caminos is opening a restaurant for the first time in three years. Stephen Hanson has been keeping a low profile since he sold his shares in the massive hospitality group, BR Guest, but has recently signed on as an investor for a new building on Herald Square in the original home of Life Magazine.

The building at 19 East 31st will soon house a boutique hotel which will also house the Hanson-run Life Restaurant which will give a serious nod to its previous inhabitance with a 1920's vibe throughout. With a kitchen run by Michael Vignola, the restaurant will feature a dining room for 80 guests, plus a lounge with 55 seats and another bar on the ground floor. The menu will be classic but light, with vegetables and seafood featured. 

The Hotel is being developed by David Mitchell who also had a hand in SoHo House's Miami property, The Beach House. He wants to keep the spirit of the 1985 building alive and part of the hotel's DNA, making it a place to hang out and enjoy as opposed to just a spot to lay your head at night. 

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