Café Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Café Nicholson was a popular New York City
restaurant that operated between 1949–2000. The establishment was a New York hot-spot for many years.
co-owned the restaurant until the mid 1970s and made Cafe´ Nicholson famous for its fabulous cuisine—especially its chocolate souffle. Cafe´ Nicholson was a pioneering establishment in the restaurant industry because it was invested in food innovation long before food innovation was popular. Over the years Cafe´ Nicholson moved around to several addresses on Manhattan's Upper East Side, although it is most remembered for its location near the Queensborough Bridge
. After nearly fifty successful and memorable years, Cafe´ Nicholson closed its doors in 2000.
Known for its lavish greco-roman interior, inspired by Cafe´ Greco in Rome, Cafe´ Nicholson made the ideal background for fashion magazine photo shoots, and various advertisements. Filmmaker Woody Allen
used the restaurant for a scene in his 1994 movie, Bullets Over Broadway
. Soon after its opening in 1949, the combination of its decor, consistently good food, and lively personal staff, established Cafe´ Nicholson as one of New York's fashionable hotspots. In addition to members of high society, Cafe´ Nicholson attracted artistic and literary figures such as Tennessee Williams
, Gore Vidal
, Jean Renoir
and many more. Photographer Karl Bissinger
documented this scene and many of his original photographs are included in the collection. Cafe´ Nicholson's client list included a range of celebrities, movie stars, politicians, old New York aristocrats and young "up and comings". In the center of this glamorous, theater-like setting was Johnny Nicholson energically running the show with his parrot Lolita perched on his shoulder. Tiffany and Co.'s design director John Loring commented, "High society loves to meet high bohemia, and at Johnny's that made for a certain cafe society." Cafe´ Nicholson holds a unique place in New York City social memory.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
restaurant that operated between 1949–2000. The establishment was a New York hot-spot for many years.
History
Café Nicholson was opened in 1949 by Johnny Nicholson. Born to Albanian immigrants, Nicholson moved from St Louis to New York after he was declared exempt from military service. Nicholson originally had dreams of becoming a fashion designer, but after an unsuccessful stint in the design industry, Nicholson opened a modest cafe on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Nicholson's good friend and extraordinary southern cook, Edna LewisEdna Lewis
Edna Lewis was an African-American chef and author best known for her books on traditional Southern cuisine.-Early life and career:...
co-owned the restaurant until the mid 1970s and made Cafe´ Nicholson famous for its fabulous cuisine—especially its chocolate souffle. Cafe´ Nicholson was a pioneering establishment in the restaurant industry because it was invested in food innovation long before food innovation was popular. Over the years Cafe´ Nicholson moved around to several addresses on Manhattan's Upper East Side, although it is most remembered for its location near the Queensborough Bridge
Queensborough Bridge
Queensborough Bridge is a highway bridge in New Westminster, British Columbia. It was built in 1960 by the City of New Westminster, costing $4 million. The bridge spans over the north arm of the Fraser River for road access to the suburb of Queensborough at the east end of Lulu Island.It has since...
. After nearly fifty successful and memorable years, Cafe´ Nicholson closed its doors in 2000.
Known for its lavish greco-roman interior, inspired by Cafe´ Greco in Rome, Cafe´ Nicholson made the ideal background for fashion magazine photo shoots, and various advertisements. Filmmaker Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
used the restaurant for a scene in his 1994 movie, Bullets Over Broadway
Bullets Over Broadway
Bullets Over Broadway is a 1994 crime-comedy film written by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath and directed by Woody Allen. It stars an ensemble cast including John Cusack, Dianne Wiest, Chazz Palminteri, and Jennifer Tilly....
. Soon after its opening in 1949, the combination of its decor, consistently good food, and lively personal staff, established Cafe´ Nicholson as one of New York's fashionable hotspots. In addition to members of high society, Cafe´ Nicholson attracted artistic and literary figures such as Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
, Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal is an American author, playwright, essayist, screenwriter, and political activist. His third novel, The City and the Pillar , outraged mainstream critics as one of the first major American novels to feature unambiguous homosexuality...
, Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. As a film director and actor, he made more than forty films from the silent era to the end of the 1960s...
and many more. Photographer Karl Bissinger
Karl Bissinger
Karl Bissinger was an American photographer best known for his portraits of notable figures in the world of art following World War II.-Early years:Karl Bissinger was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1914...
documented this scene and many of his original photographs are included in the collection. Cafe´ Nicholson's client list included a range of celebrities, movie stars, politicians, old New York aristocrats and young "up and comings". In the center of this glamorous, theater-like setting was Johnny Nicholson energically running the show with his parrot Lolita perched on his shoulder. Tiffany and Co.'s design director John Loring commented, "High society loves to meet high bohemia, and at Johnny's that made for a certain cafe society." Cafe´ Nicholson holds a unique place in New York City social memory.