After seeing the link on Gawker, I've just finished reading this entire thread and had to join in.... While I can't confirm for a fact why Commune (previous tenant at Rocco's on 22nd location) closed, I do know, based on my friend who used to work there, that for the last 3-6 months of its existence payroll checks were bouncing like superballs -- when they were issued at all. Every time they did get a check, the staff scrambled to find a check cashing joint in the city that would take it. So, yeah, maybe the upstairs residents were smelling that divine truffled mac and cheese in the middle of the night while rats scurried about the floor...or maybe someone wasn't paying their rent. And did anyone read waiter/castmember Gideon's "train of thought" page on his website? Illuminating. Gideon Rails All the fat, all the flavor - -Fatback
