New Concept Store Planned for the East Village

Top 40 Under 40 alumni Phil Robertson and Sebastian Sztabzyb of Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters, Aviv Fried of Sidewalk Citizen Bakery and John Jackson and Connie DeSousa of Charcut are collaborating on a unique – and incredibly delicious – concept store and caf.

This is a big project for all three of the involved companies. The caf is set to open in the Simmons Building in the East Village, and, while the project won’t be finished and open to the public until 2015, the beginnings of infrastructural work is already underway. The Simmons building is a protected historical building, so construction isn’t as easy as knocking walls down. It needs to be done carefully; the caf will undergo a 14 to 18 month construction process.

Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters is moving its roasting facility here and it will be the new location for its training and educational classes. Products from Sidewalk Citizens Bakery and Charcut will also be available.

Sebastian Sztabzyb says, “The venue will still be caf style, but with the idea that someone can come in and also get a cheese plate with charcuterie. Someone could be having dinner at Charcut and order a coffee that is made by one of our baristas. Or customers can enjoy fresh baked sourdough topped off with a nice coffee made by a professional barista.”

The new store will be multi-level. Sztabzyb says, “The basement will have storage and production. The main level will have most of the action and the second floor will be home to office spaces, training and classes. The second level will be open to the first, to get the energy from that floor. And, there will be a rooftop patio.”

A great trio, a gorgeous location and a building full of character: this is a concept made in food heaven. The 2015 opening can’t come soon enough.