"Lefkes already has an identity and a following that people connect with," Alexander Duran said in the announcement of the Fort Lee opening, as reported by Daily Voice. "Bringing it to this space was the right move."
Duran is also the restaurateur who opened Ventanas in that same space in March 2019. So the grand opening of Lefkes at The Modern this Friday, October 9, involves less change than the new sign suggests. The operator is the same. Much of the team is staying, according to the announcement. Late nights with a DJ continue, and so does sushi. The menu around the sushi moves from Ventanas' Latin and Asian fusion to modern Greek, and a restaurant that drew people to Sylvan Avenue in Englewood Cliffs for nearly eight years now has a Fort Lee address.
How a Fire on Sylvan Avenue Ended Up at The Modern
Two restaurants, a fire, and one restaurateur connect the Ventanas space to the Englewood Cliffs original. In order:
- September 2018. Patch reported that Lefkes would open later that month at 495 Sylvan Avenue in Englewood Cliffs. Plans called for a two-story Greek restaurant with a raw-bar lounge and a fire-pit patio. At the time, Patch named Stavros Aktipis of Kellari Hospitality Group as the proprietor.
- March 2019. Ventanas opened at The Modern, 200 Park Avenue, with Duran, known for Son Cubano, and chef David Burke as lead partners.
- August 2019. Ventanas began offering poolside service to residents at The Modern's rooftop pools, which were a residential amenity separate from the restaurant.
- June 11, 2026. A fire broke out before dawn at the Sylvan Avenue building. News 12 New Jersey reported that officials said it may have started in the basement and spread into the walls. No injuries were reported. The building was considered a total loss.
- June 12, 2026. Lefkes told NorthJersey.com it was working to rebuild and return. The statement did not name a location.
- September 30, 2026. The Fort Lee move was announced. Owner Georgia Dumas is partnering with Duran, and the announcement said the takeover "marks the end of Ventanas."
A few questions remain open. None of the published coverage says whether Lefkes plans to rebuild at 495 Sylvan Avenue too, or gives an exact last day of service for Ventanas. The announcements also don't explain how ownership passed from the proprietor named in 2018 to Dumas. Ventanas' own website, last dated July 2026, shows menu copy and a reservations link from before the announcement and may not reflect the change.
What Carries Over
The 2019 descriptions of Ventanas and the 2026 descriptions of Lefkes overlap a lot. When it opened, Ventanas offered a tapas lounge, a bar, and a dining room across about 7,000 square feet, with windows and an outdoor terrace facing The Modern's landscaped two-acre park. Weekend live music and DJs were part of its late-night format, and sushi was one of its signature offerings.
Lefkes at The Modern is described as a two-story restaurant with an outdoor patio, a landscaped garden, and private event space for corporate and family gatherings. Its menu pairs modern Greek cuisine with what the announcement calls Lefkes' "signature sushi menu." After dinner, it plans parties with DJs and entertainment the announcement describes as inspired by the energy of Mykonos.
Lefkes ran that same format in Englewood Cliffs, where dinner turned into a DJ-led club night. Its "napkin parties" had guests tossing napkins down from the upper level. The new space also has two levels.
The staff carries over as well. The announcement says much of the Ventanas team, along with its hospitality and energy, will move into Lefkes. If you celebrated a birthday or held a work dinner at Ventanas, you're likely to see some familiar faces at the door and behind the bar.
What Changes
The biggest change is the food. Ventanas launched with a modern American, Asian, and Cuban fusion menu with Latin and Asian influences. Lefkes brings the modern Greek cooking that built its following on Sylvan Avenue. The published announcements don't list specific dishes.
The room has also been redone, with white accents, new murals, new lighting and furniture, and other Mediterranean-inspired details. The Bergen County Girl describes the goal as a Greek island feel.
The new team is also planning wine dinners and other special programming. Dumas said the restaurant's guests "come from all over for that experience" and called the Fort Lee location "its most elegant expression yet."
The Hours
The schedule covers lunch, a long happy hour, weekend brunch, and late closings at the end of the week.
| Sunday to Wednesday | Thursday to Saturday | |
|---|---|---|
| Open | 11:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. |
| Close | 10 p.m. | 2 a.m. |
| Happy hour | 3:30 to 7 p.m. daily | 3:30 to 7 p.m. daily |
| Brunch | Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. |
Reservations are available online or through OpenTable. Friday, October 9, is the grand opening, and the 2 a.m. closing applies that night.
The happy hour is the detail that stands out for weeknights. It runs three and a half hours every day, starting at 3:30. Paired with the 11:30 a.m. lunch opening, that turns a space known mostly for celebrations and late nights into an option on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.
The Weekend Around the Opening
The opening lands on a busy weekend in town, with several things ending or starting within the same two days:
- Fort Lee Historic Park Visitor Center. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission lists it as closed for scheduled building maintenance from September 28 through October 9. Its normal hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The commission's phone number is 201-461-1776 if you'd like to confirm before going Saturday.
- Artisan Market, Saturday, October 10. The Business District Alliance's market runs noon to 5 p.m. at Hudson Lights Park, with local makers, handmade goods, and live music.
- Autumn Renewal Art Show, closing October 10. The Fort Lee Artists Guild's second annual show at the Fort Lee Museum, 1589 Parker Avenue, opened September 13 and ends Saturday.
- Paper shredding, Saturday, October 10. The borough calendar lists a shredding event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fort Lee Recreation Center, 1500 Stillwell Avenue.
Two weeks later, the BDA's free Fall-O-Ween Spooktacular comes to Hudson Lights Park at 183 Main Street on Saturday, October 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It includes face painting, balloon twisters, a magician, a DJ, and candy.
Saturday, October 10, could start at the shredding drop-off, which closes at 1 p.m., move to brunch at 200 Park Avenue, and finish at the Artisan Market, which runs until 5 p.m., with a stop on Parker Avenue before the art show closes.
At TK Real Estate Group, we follow changes like this one because a block is defined by what happens inside its buildings, and a familiar team carrying on in a well-known room is part of Fort Lee's story this fall. If you live near Park Avenue or The Modern and want to know how local changes like this one affect what you own or plan to buy, Schedule a Free Consultation with Taliah and our team.
