It was New York's weekend flea market in Chelsea that gave birth to the Antique Cafe - or at least to the idea of it.
Jon Wolohojian and Marcial Cavero were regulars at the market, both buying and selling.They quickly saw that something was missing from the neighborhood where the many weekday parking lots became packed with vendors and shoppers even before dawn every Saturday and Sunday. What was needed was a comfortable, friendly place to have coffee, breakfast or lunch, where the early-risers and after-brunch browsers alike would find good, homestyle food and an atmosphere designed for meeting and making friends. After only a few months planning, the Antique Cafe was born in the fall of 1998.
The tiny Antique Cafe brought its friends close together - elbow-to-elbow at times. Bargaining for a chair and sharing a table were standard procedure, but there was always, it seemed, room enough for one more. The weekend crowds were replaced Monday through Friday with those who worked or lived close by, who welcomed their new neighbor and quickly made the cafe a minor Chelsea landmark.
Jon and Marcial at the first Antique Cafe.
Our original home on 25th Street opened in 1998.
Summer 2003, Antique Cafe moves one block north and into a new era.
The first cafe was almost too successful for itself. With a steady stream of customers and a busy catering business as well, the limitations of the basement kitchen and thronged counter were tested every day. And the neighborhood was changing, too.
The parking lots that had hosted the flea markets were being filled with high-rise apartment buildings. One of these looked like it could provide the perfect location for a stepped-up Antique Cafe - a real restaurant, with an international cuisine. The site offered a broad, sunny patio set away from the street, and a bright, soaring interior. The much-loved counter service would blend with comfortable banquettes and spacious tables, where waiters took over at night.
Naturally, many of the old crowd missed the intimacy of the original cafe. But they were soon won over by the pleasure of relaxing over brunch on the terrace, or sharing a bottle of wine to the familiar soundtrack of Piaf, Sinatra and Domingo. And for Jon, Marcial and their staff, the new digs meant a growing presence in the area. The Antique Cafe on 26th Street became a center of activity for the new residents arriving in this old neighborhood. No sooner was the new AC gaining the patina of familiarity, than a dream to expand took shape.
Above: 26th Street
Left: 27th Street
Double identity ...
Just a few blocks away from the busy new location, but far removed from the brand new high-rise feel, was a tempting space near 8th Avenue on 27th Street. In a building that's a genuine antique itself, this 2004 addition would be reminiscent of the first Antique Cafe, as well as recalling the 19th-century feel of its historic neighborhood.
Only steps from the Fashion Institute of Technology, AC "the third" evokes the youthful feel of the college coffee house. Shelves of books and games, casual food, a fire in the hearth in winter, and mismatched furnishings combine to create a home-away-from home atmosphere equally popular with students and longtime neighborhood residents.
A natural entrepreneur and host, Jon had once owned a nightclub in Switzerland, and later manufactured textiles in India. No surprise then that at every break in the action behind the cafe's counter he could be seen arranging introductions between his customers, or heard greeting friends in French or German - and occasionally in Hindi.
Jon's inspiration for both menus and decor was a mix of international flavor and American coziness. His recipe for hospitality was simply making his guests feel like welcome friends - which an atonishing number quickly became.
Along with Jon's family, and with the support of long-time staff and friends, partner Marcial Cavero has redoubled his dedication to keep the Antique Cafe the special place Jon had made it. Every decision includes the question, "What would Jon have thought?" It's a continuing legacy that promises to last long into the future.
Marcial and all the Antique Cafe staff hope you'll find Jon's irrepressible spirit in your own favorite corner of our cafes ... and in all your travels.
Saying goodbye to a great friend and partner ...
In December of 2005, Jon Wolohojian passed away after a sudden and short illness. With a personality as big as his generous heart, Jon had always been the smiling "face" of the Antique Cafe, and his loss was deeply felt.
Jon at his house in Saugerties NY.
Visit our Bed & Breakfast apartments at antiquecafebb.com
Contents c. 2007 Antique Cafe New York and/or Visogno Web Design
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