The Carriage House Meets Caroline Bell of Café Grumpy
For example, meet Caroline Bell. She’s a longtime coffee connoisseur and the owner of four Café Grumpy locations in New York. Caroline’s particular passion and entrepreneurial spirit was the inspiration behind her cafés, where New Yorkers can sip lattes in a relaxed environment in the heart of a bustling neighborhood. Café Grumpy’s Chelsea location, which opened in 2006, is a popular destination for locals, tourists and coffee addicts just passing through.
Café Grumpy
224 West 20th Street
New York, NY 1001
212-255-5511
Tell me about Café Grumpy and how it got started.
In 2005, my husband [Chris] and I opened the first Café Grumpy location in Greenpoint. Since then, we’ve added cafés in Park Slope, Chelsea and the Lower East Side.
Are you from the local area? What did you do before?
I’m from Ramsey, New Jersey. Prior to the restaurant business, I worked at a variety of different jobs, including at an art gallery. We always hang local art around the café. It’s great exposure for artists. Akane Ogura’s colorful portraits are currently displayed around the café.
How has the Chelsea neighborhood changed over the past 5 years?
I definitely feel like it’s gotten busier. There are more people walking through, especially towards The High Line. A lot of stores along the avenue have changed and there’s absolutely more places to eat.
Speaking of, what’s your favorite lunch or dinner spot in the area?
Le Zie is pretty great. They have a bar and a restaurant.
Any secret/specialty coffees that only the regulars know about?
Yeah, one drink that’s not on the menu that regulars like to order is the Gibraltar. It’s a stronger form of a cappuccino that you’re supposed to take in a shot.
How did you choose the name “Café Grumpy”?
When we were coming up with the name for the café we would talk to people who specialized in coffee and realized that they always had a little attitude. It became our joke and eventually my brother designed the Café Grumpy logo.
For more information on Carriage House or to set up a site visit, please feel free to contact me at JTurken@warburgrealty.com, call 212.24 House (4-6873) or visit the website at www.Carriagehouse24.com