Chabad Loft in Greenwich Village faces eviction amid disputed lease

For six years, Chabad Loft has operated out of the Kavanah Space in Greenwich Village, charging $7,000 monthly for a 2,800-square-foot venue. Rabbi Jerry Bankhalter maintains that a lease extension gives him two more years, but the landlord, represented by Gregory Bougopoulos of Lynch Family Associates, says the lease expired and the rent is far below market value. In June, the landlord filed an eviction suit in Manhattan housing court, and in July Rabbi Bankhalter’s attorney Angelo Bisceglie filed a counterclaim in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging fraud and negligent misrepresentation.

Both parties agree the five-year renewal option was never signed, and the rabbi has invested about $30,000 in renovations based on the expectation of staying until 2028. The landlord alleges the tenant declined to negotiate a market-rate lease, while the rabbi says the landlord is trying to force him out. A recent “for rent” sign now hangs in the window as the legal battle continues.