The city isn’t kidding when it issues a summons over fire-code violations, as former Employees Only chef Jeremy Spector and 103 other people discovered last weekend. Eater reports that Spector pleaded guilty to illegally storing propane tanks and was fined $250. The other summoned parties included Hiroko’s Place in Soho, Flatiron testosterzone Porky’s, and McKenna’s Pub in Chelsea.

EaterWire Midday Edition: Employees Only Chef and Over 100 Others Arrested in Sweep [Eater]

Correction: In an earlier version of this post, we identified Jeremy Spector as Employees Only's chef. He is in fact the former chef. The current chef is Julia Jaksic.

David Waltuck will channel Macao.Photo: Patrick McMullan

Update: Kosmas has just informed us that David Waltuck will be the restaurant's executive chef, not a consultant.

Earlier: Zeppelin Isn't Coming to Church Street, But the Macao Trading Co. Is

It’s no secret that Beatrice Inn, Employees Only, and Smith and Mills owner Matt Abramcyk is poised to open a lounge on the fifth floor of the Chelsea in Atlantic City (we’ve just heard it will be called the Terrace and will officially open the weekend of July 25, after the hotel’s opening party a week prior — and there are sure to be friends-and-family festivities before then), but according to a long overdue profile in the Observer, that’s not the only thing he’s working on.

Remember the Macao-themed restaurant Jay Kosmas told us about last year? Well, it turns out that it is coming to Tribeca, in the old Sugar space at 311 Church Street. The Macao Trading Company will be opening in September. The place, we're told, will feature “Macanese specialties, like African chicken and hot prawns the size of small lobsters, [and] (Chanterelle) chef Keith Harry’s spice-driven menu will reflect the territory’s many culinary influences, such as Portuguese, Chinese and Southeast Asian.” Apparently, there will be dim sum carts and tropical cocktails, too. Better still, the restaurant, which will have two floors, will be open daily until 4 in the morning. That’s what Jay tells us, and we’re happy to hear it. Contrary to reports elsewhere of Zeppelin, Employees Only’s forties-themed sequel, coming to Church Street, EO's Jason Kosmas tells us that Zeppelin is currently on hold.

Related: A Revived Zeppelin Eyes Downtown Spot
Employees Only to Land a Zeppelin on 9th Street, and Eventually, Macao?

Strong Buzz is reporting that the Employees Only guys have abandoned the onetime speakeasy at 21 West 9th Street that was going to be Zeppelin. Partner Jason Kosmas tells us why exactly: “We’ve turned over the keys and put it in the hands of our lawyer because we didn’t want to begin construction till they remediated certain leaks and molds.” Kosmas says it was unclear whether this was the responsibility of the co-op or of a tenant who was acting as a sub-landlord of the space. Having contracted the former Marylou’s back in April, he and his partners, who were hoping to begin construction in January, got sick of waiting on a timeline for the work. They're currently looking for a new location (preferably in the same area), and chef Keith Harry is still onboard.

The Strong Buzz for January 28 [Strong Buzz]
Earlier: Zeppelin Hits a Snag, Won't Open Till Later Next Year

Julia Jaksic, underground-dinner-club hostess and consulting chef at Smith and Mills, has been named head chef at Employees Only (where she was previously a sous-chef) and has completely revamped the menu. Look for nods to her Croatian heritage: A hamburger that’s served on a fluffy pita with pepper paste, and (on the brunch menu) polenta with smoked bacon and sauerkraut and brown butter. Berkshire bacon makes another appearance wrapped around New Zealand lamb chops — an appetizer that’s fast becoming the Employees Only equivalent of Freemans’ devils on horseback. The late-night menu has also been jazzed up, surely good news for industry types still reeling from the loss of wee hours eating at Mas (farmhouse).

Employees Only dinner menu

Related: Sign Up for Secret Dinner Club's Weekend Time Warp

Better change that opening date.Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Related: Employees Only to Land a Zeppelin on 9th Street, and Eventually, Macao?

Word got out on a bulletin board the other day that Employees Only was acquiring the old Marylou’s space on 21 West 9th Street near Sixth Avenue. EO bartender and co-owner Jason Kosmas tells us more: “It’s going to be much more of a restaurant than a bar. Think of the difference between Lucky Strike and Balthazar.”