Hello, my name is Simon Kim and I’m the proprietor of Cote Korean Steakhouse, the world’s first Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse, located at 16 West 22nd Street. I have also proudly served on the Associate Board at Madison Square Park Conservancy for 1.5 years. My vision for Cote was to embody the regal and classic approach of the American steakhouse, all while matching the ‘fun & fire’ of a light-hearted tabletop barbeque experience. I truly hope you will be able to join us for a meal sometime soon.

Back in March, the government mandated restaurants to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overnight, Cote was forced to shutter its doors and we had to make the unfortunate decision to lay off close to 100 of our hardworking employees. It then became my mission to find a way to help the people and community that had supported us for so long. In addition to caring for the restaurant team, we partnered with Frontline Foods, a grassroots organization that delivered healthy, morale-boosting meals to healthcare workers fighting the virus on the front lines. This partnership has allowed Cote to donate over 1,000 bowls to health care workers!

Cote is just a block away from Madison Square Park and so in 2019, I made the natural and necessary decision to become a member of the Conservancy’s Associate Board. The Park is one of Manhattan’s oldest public spaces and being an active member of the Associate Board has allowed me to aid in its maintenance and preservation, while learning and growing with other members and neighbors of the community.

Despite the pandemic’s uprooting of all our lives, we are proud to remain an active member of our beloved community. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you in the Park or at Cote sometime soon!