Tavern on the Green Cleans Up with Class

The legendary Tavern on the Green may be shutting its glamorous doors for good, but not without doing a different kind of good for those in need.

Owner Jennifer LeRoy (who took on ownership of the landmark restaurant after her father passed away in 2001) isn't letting the bitter battle with her landlord sour her outlook. In fact, she's going out with a generous heart, donating 4,000 pounds of leftover food and goods from the restaurant to City Harvest, the Associated Press reports. The food will help feed those who need it most.

City Harvest will deliver the donated food to local soup kitchens and food pantries, which have been struggling to keep up with demand in these tough economic times.

Aside from the fresh food and dry goods, the Tavern (which shuttered its Central Park doors on New Year's Eve after LeRoy and her landlord couldn't agree on a new lease,) will also be unloading other items, like furniture and kitchen supplies at an auction next week.

The place may be gone, but not forgotten — especially not to those who score the winning bid on a piece of the Tavern's storied history.

Photo courtesy of David Paul Ohmer@Flickr.