Fashion Cafe

Last updated
Fashion Cafe
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurant
Founded1995;29 years ago (1995) in New York City
Founders
  • Francesco Buti
  • Tommaso Buti
Headquarters
New York City, New York
,
United States
Number of locations
5
Areas served
United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico, Spain
Key people
Owners
  • Francesco Buti
  • Tommaso Buti

Fashion Cafe was an international restaurant chain that was based in New York City that featured celebrity models and had locations in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico, and Spain. Francesco Buti and Tommaso Buti founded the restaurant in 1995, the business was initially fronted by super models Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington. [1] The Associated Press called the chain "a couture version of Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock Cafe." [2]

Contents

History

The chain first opened in Rockefeller Center, New York City in 1995. [3] On Monday May 6, 1996, construction began on the London branch of the chain, though the London branch went bust in 1999, a year after it opened. [1] The London and New York locations became the primary locations of Fashion Cafe. The Fashion Café's grand opening was the highlight of that season's fashion week. Gianni and Donatella Versace, Tyra Banks, Veronica Webb, Beverly Peele, and Eileen Ford were all there with Stephen Baldwin, David Copperfield, the Wayans brothers, Jon Stewart, Matt Lauer, RuPaul, and Molly Ringwald. [4]

The Rockefeller Center Fashion Cafe closed in 1998.

Criticized for its management of the restaurant chain, Tommaso Buti was finally granted a full pardon by President Donald Trump on 19 January 2021 before being tried on any charges. [5]

Specifications

The Fashion Cafe's facade was shiny and merchandised, resembled more of a souvenir gift shop than an eatery with a large steel nameplate and passerby-friendly glass window panes. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taco Bell</span> American fast-food chain

Taco Bell Corp. is an American multinational chain of fast food restaurants founded in 1962 by Glen Bell (1923–2010) in Downey, California. Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. The restaurants serve a variety of Mexican-inspired foods, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, novelty, and speciality items, and a variety of "value menu" items. As of 2023, Taco Bell serves over two billion customers each year, at 8,212 restaurants, more than 94 percent of which are owned and operated by independent franchisees and licensees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Walk of Fame</span> Sidewalk hall of fame in Los Angeles, United States

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,777 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California. The stars are monuments to achievement in the entertainment industry, bearing the names of a mix of actors, directors, producers, musicians, theatrical/musical groups, fictional characters, and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nordstrom</span> American luxury department store chain

Nordstrom, Inc. is an American luxury department store chain headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin in 1901. The original Wallin & Nordstrom store operated exclusively as a shoe store, and a second Nordstrom's shoe store opened in 1923. The growing Nordstrom Best chain began selling clothing in 1963, and became the Nordstrom full-line retailer that presently exists by 1971. The company founded its off-price Nordstrom Rack division in 1973, and grew both full-line and off-price divisions throughout the United States in the following years. The full-line division competes with department stores including Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue, while the off-price division competes with retailers including the TJX Companies and Ross Stores. Previous expansions beyond the contiguous United States include Puerto Rico (2015–2020) and Canada (2014–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard Rock Cafe</span> Chain of restaurants

Hard Rock Cafe, Inc. is a chain of theme bar-restaurants, memorabilia shops, casinos and museums founded in 1971 by Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton in London. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2007, Hard Rock Cafe International (USA), Inc. was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and was headquartered in Orlando, Florida, until April 2018, when the corporate offices were relocated to Davie, Florida. As of July 2018, Hard Rock International has venues in 74 countries, including 172 bar or cafe-restaurants, 37 hotels, and 11 casinos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In-N-Out Burger</span> American fast food chain

In-N-Out Burgers, doing business as In-N-Out Burger, is an American regional chain of fast food restaurants with locations primarily in California and to a lesser extent the Southwest from Oregon to Texas. It was founded in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948 by Harry (1913–1976) and Esther Snyder (1920–2006). The chain is headquartered in Irvine, California and has expanded outside Southern California into the rest of California, as well as into Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho, and is planning expansions into New Mexico and Tennessee. The current owner is Lynsi Snyder, the Snyders' only grandchild.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivana Trump</span> Czech-American businesswoman (1949–2022)

Ivana Marie Trump was a Czech-American businesswoman, socialite, and model. She lived in Canada in the 1970s, before relocating to the United States and marrying Donald Trump in 1977. She held key managerial positions in The Trump Organization, as vice president of interior design, as CEO and president of Trump's Castle casino resort, and as manager of the Plaza Hotel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planet Hollywood</span> North American company of theme restaurants inspired by North American cinema

Planet Hollywood International Inc. is a themed restaurant chain inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood. The company is owned by Earl Enterprises corporation. Earl Enterprises was founded by Robert Earl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Palm (restaurant)</span> Restaurant in New York City, New York

The Palm is an international chain of American fine-dining steakhouses that began in 1926. The original location was in New York City at 837 Second Avenue in Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Village</span> Shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Disneyland Paris

Disney Village is a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex in Disneyland Paris, located in the town of Marne-la-Vallée, France. Originally named Festival Disney, it opened on April 12, 1992, covering an area of approximately 18,000 square metres (190,000 sq ft) inside what was then known as Euro Disney Resort.

Daniela Peštová is a Czech model. She was born in Teplice, Czech Republic, and was discovered by the Madison Modeling Agency's Dominique Caffin. She had plans to attend college after grammar school but after winning a modelling contest she moved to Paris to sign with Madison Modeling Agency. She moved to New York, and from there, her career took off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theme restaurant</span> Restaurant based around a concept or intellectual property

A theme restaurant is a type of restaurant that uses theming to attract diners by creating a memorable experience. Theme restaurants have a unifying or dominant subject or concept, and utilize architecture, decor, special effects, and other techniques, often to create exotic environments that are not normally associated with dining because they are inaccessible, no longer exist, are fictional or supernatural, or taboo. The theme may be further extended through the naming and choices of food, though food is usually secondary to entertaining guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bergdorf Goodman</span> American luxury department store

Bergdorf Goodman Inc. is a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son, Andrew Goodman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California-style pizza</span> Style of single-serving pizza

California-style pizza is a style of pizza that combines New York and Italian thin crust with toppings from the California cuisine cooking style. Its invention is generally attributed to chef Ed LaDou, and Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California. Wolfgang Puck, after meeting LaDou, popularized the style of pizza in the rest of the country. It is served in many California cuisine restaurants. California Pizza Kitchen, Round Table Pizza, Extreme Pizza, and Sammy's Woodfired Pizza are four major pizza franchises associated with California-style pizza.

Robert Earl is an English-American film producer, investor, restaurateur, and television personality. He is the founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood, chairman of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, and host of Robert Earl's Be My Guest television program which airs weekly on the Cooking Channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ivy (UK)</span> British restaurant

The Ivy is a British restaurant founded in 1917 known for its popularity with celebrities. The original restaurant's location in the West End, opposite the Ambassadors and St Martin's theatres, made it a popular restaurant for theatregoers. The Ivy has since expanded into various locations across the United Kingdom and Ireland, known as the Ivy Collection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broadway at the Beach</span> Shopping mall in South Carolina, United States

Broadway at the Beach is a shopping center and entertainment complex located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Broadway at the Beach is owned and operated by Burroughs & Chapin. The $250 million attraction is set on 350 acres (1.4 km2) in the heart of Myrtle Beach and features three theaters, over 20 restaurants and over 100 specialty shops as well as attractions, Clubs for the night, and hotels, all surrounding the 23-acre (93,000 m2) Lake Broadway. Broadway at the Beach receives upwards of 14 million visitors annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max's Restaurant</span> Philippine restaurant chain

Max's Restaurant, sometimes known as Max's of Manila or simply Max's, is a Philippine-based multinational restaurant chain which serves fried chicken and other Filipino dishes. It is owned and operated by the Max's Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Café Rouge</span>

Café Rouge is a French-styled restaurant chain, with 13 sites across the United Kingdom. Café Rouge is part of a bigger restaurant network owned by The Big Table.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Official All Star Café</span>

The Official All Star Cafe was a chain of sports themed restaurants developed by Planet Hollywood. Planet Hollywood recruited Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, Shaquille O'Neal, Ken Griffey Jr., Andre Agassi, and Monica Seles to invest in the concept. Restaurants featured "stadium cuisine" and sales of professional sports merchandise and souvenirs.

References

  1. 1 2 "Fashion Cafe, Planet Hollywood square off". Spartanburg Herald-Journal . May 8, 1996. p. A2. Retrieved July 5, 2011 via Google Books.
  2. "Trendy celebrity crowd packs opening of chic Fashion Cafe". Bangor Daily News . Associated Press. April 10, 1995. p. C6. Retrieved July 5, 2011 via Google Books.
  3. Saulny, Susan (December 12, 2000). "Businessmen Who Created Fashion Cafe Are Hit With Fraud Charges". The New York Times . Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  4. "Remembering the Bizarre History of New York's Fashion Café". WM Magazine. April 30, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  5. "Pardons Granted by President Donald J. Trump (2017-2021)". www.justice.gov. August 28, 2017.
  6. "A historical look at the Fashion Cafe". CR Fashion Book. June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2011.