Billionaire casino and restaurant mogul Tilman Fertitta has acquired New York City's historic Keens Steakhouse for $30 million, adding to his impressive portfolio of high-end dining establishments.

Established in 1885 by Albert Keen, the iconic 16,000-square-foot Midtown Manhattan restaurant near Herald Square has been a cornerstone of New York's culinary scene for over a century. The establishment is renowned for its 26-ounce lamb chops (originally mutton chops) and has hosted notable patrons including Theodore Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, and Anthony Bourdain.

Fertitta, whose net worth exceeds $10 billion, purchased the steakhouse independently rather than through his restaurant company Landry's, which owns Morton's, Del Frisco's, and Mastro's. He has committed to preserving the restaurant's historic character and legacy, stating, "This is a New York jewel" that will "continue to be one of the best experiences in New York City."

The property was previously owned by the estate of George Schwarz, a radiation oncologist who purchased and renovated the restaurant in 1978. Bonnie Jenkins, Keens' General Manager, expressed confidence in the transition, noting that Schwarz would have approved of Fertitta's commitment to maintaining the brand's historic significance.

Fertitta's empire includes the Houston Rockets NBA team, Golden Nugget casinos, and he recently became Wynn Resorts' largest shareholder. He is currently developing a new 43-story, 2,420-room casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

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