Charles Dayan | |
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Born | Charles ben-Dayan 1941 (age 82–83) |
Known for | co-founder of Bonjour Jeans founder of Bonjour International |
Spouse | Ariela ben-Dayan |
Family | Eli Dayan (brother) Avi Dayan (brother) |
Charles Ben Dayan (born 1941) is an American real estate developer, the founder of Bonjour Capital and co-founder of Bonjour Jeans.
Born to a Syrian Jewish family, who had emigrated from Mandatory Syria[1] to Mandatory Palestine (the immediate predecessor of modern Israel). Dayan emigrated to the United States in 1967,[1] and in 1972, with his brothers Eli and Avi, founded Bonjour International, a company that was the first to import low-cut French-style jeans into the United States using the Bonjour name.[1] He served as president of Bonjour International.[2] By 1982, Bonjour had $150 million in annual sales.[1] After leaving Bonjour International, Dayan founded the real estate development firm Bonjour Capital. Larger investments are made with partners and include the renovation of 5 Beekman Street with Joseph Chetrit;[3][4][5] the $290 million 2005 purchase (together with partners Joseph Chetrit and Yair Levy) of the 800,000 square foot historic 620 5th Avenue and its 2011 sale to RXR Realty, LLC for $500 million;[6] and the purchase of the Blake Hotel in Charlotte.[7][8] When not in a partnership, Dayan focuses on new developments in gentrifying neighborhoods in Long Island City in Queens;[9] Bedford-Stuyvesant and Clinton Hill in Brooklyn;[10][11] and Manhattanville in Manhattan.[12]
He is married to Ariela Ben-Dayan. Dayan was an early proponent of the green movement in the textile industry.[2][13] His brother Eli Dayan, founded the disco Tunnel in 1986.[1] Dayan serves on the executive committee of the Israel Cancer Research Fund.[14][15]