Queer tourists will soon have a new place to sleep in NYC as there’s a trendy gay-friendly hotel coming to Hell’s Kitchen, but it comes with a very controversial anti-LGBTQ+ history.
The property at 510 W. 42nd Street was previously the site of the hetero hotspot known as the Playboy Club, which shuttered in 2019, and, most recently, the 103-room Cachet Boutique Hotel NYC.
Gay real estate developer and hotelier Ian Reisner, who is a managing partner at Parkview Developers, signed a lease to transform the space into a renovated hotel, 7,500 square-foot restaurant and a 14,000 square-foot dance club with a basement mixology bar, reported the New York Post.
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“It’s a gay hotel where straight friends and family are welcome too,” Reisner, 55, told the outlet. “It’s a reorientation, and a kind of play on words.”
This is also a second act for Reisner who is no stranger to LGBTQ-friendly spaces as he previously co-founded the Out NYC Hotel in the same location in 2012. The Out NYC also housed the restaurant KTCHN and the gay club XL.
Reisner also purchased a bulk of the commercial businesses in the gay beachside mecca of Fire Island Pines, including two restaurants, the Pavilion night club, a pool deck, and boat docks.
By 2015, Reisner was running a large chunk of queer spaces for gays in the New York area. And then it all blew up in his face.
In April 2015, Reisner and his partner Mati Weiderpass hosted a dinner at their NYC penthouse for proud anti-LGBTQ+ Senator Ted Cruz, who was running to be the GOP presidential candidate at the time. In addition to breaking bread with the proud homophobe, Reisner donated $2,700 to his campaign.
Around the same time, Reisner hosted a private fundraiser for Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson and also donated $2,700 to his senate re-election campaign.
Reisner’s support for the anti-gay politicians, who were vehemently against same-sex marriage becoming the law of the land, caused an uproar in the queer community. As expected, Reisner was inundated with tons of bad press, swift backlash and calls to boycott all of his businesses.
At the time, Reisner claimed to have not been aware of the politicians’ anti-LGBTQ+ stances.
A Facebook apology followed, where Reisner wrote: “I sincerely apologize for hurting the gay community and so many of our friends, family, allies, customers and employees. I will try my best to make up for my poor judgement. Again, I am deeply sorry.”
But the damage was done. In 2016, the Out Hotel was sold for $40 million to Merchants Hospitality, which no longer planned for the property to service a strictly gay clientele.
Reisner’s Fire Island holdings haven’t fared much better as his company, Outpost Pines, filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and put the properties up for sale for $17.2 million, per The Real Deal.
Now while most of Reisner’s political drama occurred prior to the onslaught of the MAGA era, it appears he has not been a financial supporter of the disgraced ex-president. (It’s unclear if he’s been a vocal proponent as his social media is set to private.)
Since the Ted Cruz backlash, Reisner has made three political donations all to Democrats. He gave $2,700 to Hillary Clinton in 2015, $1,000 to Sen. Tammy Baldwin in 2018, and $500 to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2023, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Reisner’s new gay-friendly NYC hotel isn’t set to open until September and will operate as an Airbnb until then.
However, it begs the question: After everything, does Reisner deserve a second third fourth chance? Would you support a business owned by a queer person who previously voiced support for a homophobic politician? Let us know what you think!
m
Oh hell no! Attack on our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, is an attack on all of us!
No! No! And no!
jackmister
No way. Plenty of other hotels in NYC.
Dave
And your dry cleaner, landlord, local wholefoods manager – what are their politics? Stupidest shit I have read today.
tessaboo
If I knew that the politics of my dry cleaner, landlord, bakery, etc were supporting homophobic policies, I would go elsewhere. Is “Dave” suggesting that we financially support homophobic activities because it’s the “easier” road to travel ?
abfab
Dave is sooooooooo progressive.
bachy
It boggles the imagination that a gay real estate magnate with millions in gay real estate holdings would simply “not know” about the anti-LGBT policies of a candidate he has feted and to whom he has contributed money!
And if he did know what was what, then… why? Authoritarianism is not “good for business.”
People like this confuse the living f**k out of me.
My2CentsWorth
dbmcvey and bachy are correct. If he knew these two were running for office he had to know what they were for. Before Ted Cruz decided to run he was known to be the horrible person that he is – and the horribleness extend beyond LGBTQ issues.
dbmcvey
“It’s a gay hotel where straight friends and family are welcome too…”
In other words, it’s a hotel.
I cannot believe he didn’t know who Ted Cruz and Ron Johnson are. All of his donations were in hope of some sort of return.
COTTONTOP
He is clearly a liar.
abfab
Hip Gays don’t stay in Gay hotels when they come to NY, and yes, I know these things!
bachy
Of course you do, abbie!!
Covid Hermit
Anybody who gave money to Russian Ron (as my sister, who lives in Wisconsin, calls Sen. Ron Johnson) isn’t going to get a dime of my money. Spend it elsewhere and give it to people who DO support our community. It’s more important now than ever due to the threat of Trump 2.0 and Project 2025.
RIGay
Make an impact – donate $1M to the Democrats. If you can afford to buy Hell’s Kitchen properties, you certainly have that laying around. $2,700 is dinner out. Otherwise, nope. Ain’t gonna buy the Facebook apology tour.
Dave084
And the POS gave the repugs $2700. He only gave the dem candidates a fraction of that
Mister P
It isn’t only because Ted Cruz is a homophobe, he is wrong on a lot more than that.
Google Ted Cruz and Christian dominionism.
abfab
And he has a strange mug and a funny voice.
James
No. He’s a creep. And a loser.
Chrisk
Reisner didn’t give one shit about their atrocious politics which he of course was well aware of as everyone else was. This was simply him currying favor for $$.
Fu*k Civil rights and helping people. To be gay and Republican means you have no soul. He’d sell anyone down the river if he thought it would benefit him.
Yeah, I’m sure playing it low is a great business decision right now.
My2CentsWorth
VERY TRUE.
tyler5577
Never forget Sean Verdi who died in Ian Reisner’s apartment.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/23-year-old-stevens-institute-grad-dies-suspected-overdose-nyc-hotel-moguls-bathtub
Carabalda
Too little, too late, Ian. Too bad for you, but da*n you to he** and back.
COTTONTOP
In a word; NO
mikekey14
HELL NO.
abfab
NO F UCKING WAY! This place was a dump and he’s another greedy bastard with zero scruples.
Mack
So far everyone has said what I was thinking. NO.
TDurden
No.
toddlicious
I stayed at that hotel once before it was disclosed that he is basically a Republican and it was a crap hotel, that he pandered to the gay community… no thanks. Would not support him again
Dave084
HELL NO!! For him to say he didn’t know of a REPUBLUCAN’S anti gay views is a LIE. I will never trust anyone who supports a Republican for anything and I’m disgusted by a LGBTQ person who does. Hundreds and hundreds of anti lgbt laws proposed or passed by useless Republicans across the country and EVERY one was done by Republicans. ANYONE who supports a Republican is an abomination and a disgrace and if you’re gay it’s 10 times worse. Gay millionaires and billionaires vote for Republicans because they care more about their money than their integrity or their fellow LGBT community members. Even though the economy is always superior under Democrats the greedy bastards are scarred to death they’ll have to let go of a few more dollars in taxes or not be able to write off their private jets. Poor babies
Dave084
*scared* to death. Forgive my sloppy spelling
ShaverC
You think the economy NOW is better than when it was under Trump (pre-COVID)?? It is NOT. How much are you paying for gas? Food? Product? How about the quality of the food? That’s thanks to the Democrats.
abfab
Again with his endless questions. Life is one big question mark for ShaverC.
dbmcvey
Yes Shaver, I do. And you can’t dismiss Covid. He was riding off (and taking credit for) Obama’s accomplishments and then completely screwed the pooch with Covid. He was a terrible President.
ShaverC
dbmcvey, “Obama’s accomplishments”. Now that is an oxymoron. It’s because of Trump we got the vaccine so quickly, and Biden rode Trump’s coattails.
dbmcvey
And Shaver, once again, proves he doesn’t know anything and is just a MAGA parrot.
Openminded
@Dave. If the economy is so good for you now, you must be one of the entitlement takers who are living off other’s tax dollars. Middle class American’s are drowning right now with high interest, high inflation, and high government spending causing high tax burdens. Your claim of a always superior economy under Democrats is simply a LIE. You certainly sound very angry to be someone living in such a superior economic time.
abfab
Coattails? You’re a MAGA hick.
Seth
I wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire so, no, I wouldn’t be wasting any money at his establishment.
Mister P
@Dave of course we can’t boycott everyone whose politics we disagree with. But if my dry cleaner or any other vendor hosts a fundraiser for Trump or Cruz or any republikkan then I will definitely boycott them.
abfab
I smell a new Log Cabinite in the room….hi Dave.
monty clift
Abfab can smell its own kind. Quelle surprise!
dbmcvey
monty, who is supposedly a full grown adult, replies “I know you are but what am I.”
abfab
He’s a sad old twit with a vulgar vocabulary.
monty clift
@dbmcvey, @abfab, Your entire existence is nothing but vulgarity. Your endless projection is as tedious as you are. Troll on, loser.
dbmcvey
@monty I know you are but what am I?
edensasp
Set to private? Naw….. NY Has plenty of City buses and subway cars to power nap on… Why would I risk funding the demise of any of our rights?
Ken A.
Totally. I believe in giving 2nd chances. Those saying nay, never. will probably be in the front of the line the night the doors open.
Lindoro Almaviva
Not in a million years. That would be like a slug supporting Morton
My2CentsWorth
True – but some may not get what you meant by Morton.
Morton Salt. And the Log Cabin and others, such as Rob Smith are nuts to have supported contemporary Republicans (and older people thought that Richard Nixion was a horrible person)
https://www.newsweek.com/rob-smith-leaves-republican-party-betrayed-1880447
Fahd
Ted Cruz? That’s not something one can overcome. I would have to say it’s a no for me.
Seems almost like it might be some sort of mob scheme (see also Trump businesses).
He should sell the properties to someone untainted who might better know what they are doing.
abfab
Gay republicans are some of the dumbest people on the planet….esp the ones who hang out here.
But he did say he was deeply sorry, twice! In the same, sincere tone that Baron Wiseman took after falsley trying to hire people to attend his saviour’s crap rallys. On Craigslist.
My2CentsWorth
Dumbest people on the planet – especially those who are also confronted with additional prejudices.
monty clift
Ah, yes. Miss Abfab, aka the MAGA T-chaser and homophobic douche nozzle, is going to tell us who the dumbest people on the planet are. Hilarity ensues.
DCFarmboy
Reisner is looking to support politicians that are corporate tools and pro-Israel. Queerty thinks that is fine so long as they are not too anti-LGBTQ
KyleMichelSullivan
I don’t patronize anyone who supports those who want to hurt me and the LGBTQ+ community. You cannot trust them, no matter what they say.
Pietro D
No support for a shithead like that! I’m not even American, but his likes make me sick!
abfab
Reisner raised further controversy when, as part of his response to the episode, he referred to his gay clientele as “frugal” and “entitled”.
LOL
DennisMpls
I feel compelled to go against the almost universal opinions expressed here. IN THEORY, the answer to the question in the headline is “absolutely yes, if the person has changed their perspective.” I’m a lifelong progressive, and I think Cruz and Johnson are two of the most reprehensible human beings in the Senate. My home state is Wisconsin, 50 miles from here in Minneapolis, and I can say that Johnson is not only reprehensible in his views, he is also remarkably dumb.
Having said that, one of my most important principles is that people can change, and I passionately believe in forgiveness and redemption. IF Reisner’s most recent donations reflect a change in his outlook I would have no problem patronizing his business. Though it does give me pause when he claims he didn’t know about the attitudes of Cruz and Johnson. You’d have to be really out of touch to not know that about Cruz in 2015. He was notorious well before that. But there is a lot of ignorance out there, and I do know people even today who know next to nothing about Cruz.
So bottom line – I have no trouble supporting someone who has changed a “bad” position. What one believes today is what matters. But I’m a tad dubious of Reisner’s change.
Openminded
Totally agree with you, Dennis. Not sure THIS guy has really changed, but I will give someone I believe has changed a chance.
abfab
Well then. It’s clear to me neither of you have met a real estate developer. Read more of his bio. Change? Please.
FreddieW
Yes, if it sends certain types of people into fits of self-righteous frenzy. You know, the kind of people who gave Ellen grief for sitting with George W Bush.
dbmcvey
Yes, gay people should be FORCED to stay at that hotel!
Well just let me say
Feigning ignorance is bullshit as big as Saturn. Boycott!!!
Kangol2
Reisner’s vomitacious.
Ronbo
I don’t know if Queerty readers are old enough to remember the hours and hours of hate heaped upon our community from Rush Limbaugh, right-wing radio radicle. Enter ubber queer Elton John. Elton abandoned his schedule to rush to Rush’s wedding to sing for the verified hate-monger. Not once, but twice! Elton, already famous and rich, pushed his schedule aside to chase the dragon of fame and money
Elton finally changed his tune… but it still leaves a bitter taste.
Did anyone notice that a log-cabiner is an editor at Queerty? One editor even posted multiple false sex stories to help a conservative politician smear a progressive gay man. Graham Gremore is quite a contradiction. Politics must pay well.
abfab
You’ve told this story. Over and over and over.
dbmcvey
I’m perfectly willing to forgive him if he does anything even close to what Elton did (such as the Ryan White foundation). I don’t know that I would stay at his hotel because most “gay” hotels are really expensive and I’m not a millionaire. If he has done even something to ameliorate the damage Cruz and Johnson have done, I will not hold a grudge but making money off the community isn’t the same as working for charities to fight a pandemic.
dbmcvey
Also, wealthy businesspeople donate to politicians because they expect something in return, what did he get in return?
mastik8
If I can read Queerty, why couldn’t I do that? Graham Gremore did the DNC’s bidding and screwed a gay politician – is anyone going to stop reading Queerty as a result of that? How’s that Faustian Bargain working out for you Graham. You can already hear the chorus of pearl clutchers saying, “Oh, well, that was different” starting to sing in his defense.
McSteve
Making a simple campaign donation to someone requires little to no effort, as easy as clicking a button online. That low effort action might also allow plausible deniability as to their positions. Hosting a fundraising dinner for an out-of-state politician in your home? And one who already holds a national office? That requires effort and planning and a willful ignorance of their anti-gay positions (which were not a secret).
His “apology” would carry more weight if he was at least honest enough to say that his financial interests clouded his better judgement, and then he showed authentic actions that had a meaningful impact. As a successful capitalist, he should understand as well as anyone that businesses are subject to market forces. Disastrous PR is also a market force, social media is also a market force, boycotts from your target market are also a market force.
abfab
Yes. Own it. Don’t lie. It’s easier. Bill Clinton could have just answered ”yes, I had sex with that woman, next question please”.
And Martha Stewart could have admitted to her big blunder for a measly 48 grand. Watch the CNN new docu on Martha. 4 parts, all delicious, perfect and pretty!
Anyway, in the end we still love both people.
LumpyPillows
Leftists like to talk about entitlement. They usually miss the boat with their wide swipes at men and white people and binary people and even gay men. There is only one real entitlement and that is wealth, especially nepo wealth. Ian fits into the nepo wealth category. He isn’t as bad as many of you think, but he does live in an alternate reality that great wealth creates. They live, think and talk differently from us. Trust me, I know.
To be honest, Ted Cruz back then wasn’t as terrible as he is now. It was his pre-Trump conversion. It was still a mistake to support Cruz even then though. He was still a turd. It was currying favor 100%. Ultimately the wealthy got Trump and his huge gift to them in his tax cuts, so Ian just picked the wrong horse, but still won. Even with the failure of his hotel complex, he still won when he checked his bank account.
I have no idea why Ian would try his hotel again with his name so prominently attached. Too many ways to do this and maintain a high level of anonymity.
Would I stay there? Maybe. Depends on how fabulous it is, the value, and if he addresses the elephant in the room.
dbmcvey
Rightists like to talk about responsibility, but they seem not to won’t take responsibility for their own actions.
dbmcvey
*want to