Famed Celebrity Restaurateur B. Smith Found In New York City

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Celebrated New York restaurant owner and former model Barbara Smith, better known as B. Smith, was found Wednesday afternoon after going missing for 18 hours.

Smith, 65, was located at La Parisien restaurant on East 33rd Street in Manhattan, with blisters on her feet after a night of wandering through brutal weather, CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff reported.

Smith, who has Alzheimer's disease, was last seen Tuesday afternoon. She boarded the Hampton jitney on 59th Street, while husband Dan Gasby waited in Sag Harbor, but she never arrived at their meeting point. He spent a frantic night and day on the phone with police amid reports of sightings in Southampton.

Gasby, who was informed by his daughter that Smith was in New York City, told Gusoff he was relieved his wife had been found.

"I am just so happy. I just want to hug her ... want her back home," Gasby said. "She has challenges, but she's not the typical person that walks off. She's never done that before."

Smith's family learned that she never made it to Long Island, as was initially intended. She got off a bus on 40th Street and then somehow got to Staten Island and then back to Manhattan. She has no memory of where she was, Gusoff reported.

At their Sag Harbor home, which is filled with photos documenting Smith's trail-blazing career, Gasby was overcome with relief.

"I don't know how she got back in the city, but she's back in the city and that's all that counts," Gasby said, adding that Thursday will be the best Thanksgiving of his life.

The $60 Smith had with her was missing when she was found, Gusoff reported.

Smith discussed her disease with Dr. Jon LaPook in an interview that aired in June on CBS News Sunday Morning.

"Even with Alzheimer's, I think that things are gonna work out," Smith said in June. "I'm gonna do my best to make it work out for me, and for as many people that I can possibly help, too."

In 1986, Smith opened a restaurant in New York City, others followed. She hosted a television program, and put her name on home products.

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