Living with Legends

Hotel Chelsea Blog

recent posts

about

A Message From Stanley Bard

Stanley Bard is back in the building today for what appears to be his final day as manager of the Chelsea Hotel.  We asked him if he would like to say a few words to the tenants of the hotel.

Hotel CB:  Do you have a statement for the tenants and other readers of this blog?

Stanley:  I’ve been here 50 years and this hotel is my life.  I am fighting for my rights and for my people, who are some of the most beautiful most creative people in the world.  We want the transition to be smooth so that everyone is not scared out of their minds.  And this is not the way to do it.  Peoples lives are too important. 

CB:  Do you know what your role will be in the new order?
Stanley: I haven’t got a clue as to my role.  I hope to be able to influence the direction of the hotel in some way. 

CB:  Do you have any advice for tenants?
Stanley:  Just tell the truth, give your true feelings.  Everyone knows that I work as hard as anyone and I don’t know what more I can do.  I have tried to give them (the board of directors) everything they want.  They want more profits and I don’t blame them, but this is not the way to go about it, throwing out poor artists.  Some people need a little extra help, and I’ve always tried to do what I can.  Over the years people here have created some really beautiful, meaningful things, and they just needed that little bit of help to be able to do it.  This hotel has heart and soul and it’s not all about the bottom line!  (Photo: David Gibbons, Chelsea Now)

sparkle hayter

Yay Stanley!

Posted by sparkle hayter on Monday, June 18, 2007 at 8:27 AM
[Remove] [Reply to this]
anno

(the bastards) *grumble*
We LOVE you STANLEY!!!

Posted by anno on Monday, June 18, 2007 at 1:32 PM
[Remove] [Reply to this]
The Legendary Hotel Chelsea

thank you stanley!

Posted by The Legendary Hotel Chelsea on Monday, June 18, 2007 at 9:46 PM
[Remove] [Reply to this]
Posted in

7 responses to “A Message From Stanley Bard”

  1. sparkle Avatar
    sparkle

    Yay Stanley!

    Like

    Reply
  2. margot Avatar
    margot

    After what he did twice to Bonnie (and with others I assume), he deserves exactly what he gets.
    He doesn’t care about his tenants! come on…

    Like

    Reply
  3. Carrie Bedsore /Cherry Ramone / Rob from Aus Avatar
    Carrie Bedsore /Cherry Ramone / Rob from Aus

    All power to you Stanley- you [and your ‘family’ at the hotel] are in my prayers.

    Like

    Reply
  4. 421to323 Avatar
    421to323

    Margot, Stanley gave Bonnie a job when she had no money, when her burlesque work dried up while she was staying at the hotel. Bonnie herself told me this one of the many nights when we met at the El Quijote bar during her shift. As you no doubt know, though Bonnie was much beloved by residents, she didn’t do that job well and she badmouthed Stanley constantly. I had to tell people not to call after 9:30pm on the hotel phone for reasons you surely know. When she was in the hospital and it looked like she wouldn’t come out, he cleared out her room because he needed to appease the investors and get new money in there. ( he also encouraged people to visit her and asked after her.) When she recovered, almost miraculously, and came back, she got her job back and got a new room. Her performance continued to decline. What other employer would have put up with that all those years? Only Stanley, who appreciated her as a Chelsea legend in her own right. She is a fabulous character and I wish she could have stayed forever.
    When Stanley finally kicked someone out, he tried like hell to make sure they had somewhere else to go. He went to great lengths to do this. And he gave them every chance to try to pay up and stay. He also promoted their work in hopes of increasing their income. I know, a couple of my friends had to leave and I myself had to give up my apartment when I owed him five figures with no end in sight. But he was so good to me that I made sure I paid him back every penny with interest before I paid off any other debts.
    If it wasn’t for that investor pressure, I doubt Stanley would have kicked anyone out, unless they were physically hurting other people. I don’t know how long you’ve been there, but I saw Stanley in and out of that hotel, as he was always there at our exhibits, our weddings and our funerals. I saw what he put up with from people every day and how it bounced off him for the most part.
    By the way, anyone know what’s going to happen with Jerry Weinstein?

    Like

    Reply
  5. Avatar
    Anonymous

    It is the end of an era. The homogenization of the Chelsea

    Like

    Reply
  6. katy martinez Avatar
    katy martinez

    The end of an era, the homogenization of the Chelsea!
    What will happen to all that artwork? It is a sad day, indeed.

    Like

    Reply
  7. Mistifica Avatar
    Mistifica

    I am happy to read all this succes: you deserve it completely. Proud to work with you in Boston, next june. Please, take all the good thoughts streaming from my heart to you…

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment