Coffee That Kicks Tail

The Grey Dog's Coffee, at 90 University Place, is an always bustling, cozy coffee spot at the heart of Greenwich Village. Icicle lights hang above brick walls adorned with paintings of dogs, and behind the counter is a giant chalk board menu with intricate calligraphy—a vast menu of breakfast foods, sandwiches, soups, salads and snacks. Dave Ethan, co-owner, feels that there is nothing New York City about his coffee shop, and sees it more as a comforting, small town place where the staff knows your name.

“You have to stay back and look at this place as a painting,” says Dave. “What you get is a Norman Rockwell painting. All day long you'll get a snap shot of small town America.”

The interior is meant to invoke a sense of home, which attracts many customers. Molly and Jonathan, friends who have been coming for years, are reminded of anything but New York City. “Whenever I am here, I feel like I'm in Colorado,” says Molly, who lives twenty blocks away. Jonathan sees more of Vermont in the vibe.

In 1996, Dave and his brother opened the original Grey Dog's Coffee at 33 Carmine Street in the West Village. "The starting point of the business was coffee but the main thing was vibe," says Dave. The coffee house's name came from the merging of the brother's two dogs. His brother's dog, Goose, was a black lab. Dave's yellow lab, Moose, looked almost white. “When you mix black and white you get grey," says Dave. “Back then all we cared about was our dogs.”

Two years ago they opened a second location. The location has a high volume of customers throughout the day, many of them students. Through the years the shop has gained a following which Dave thinks may very well be a cult. During peak hours, the line is almost out the door as patrons eagerly wait to grab a wooden table covered with images of maps that vary from New York City to San Francisco. Everything on the menu, except the bagels, is prepared in the kitchen. The place is completely self-sufficient, according to Dave.

Last fall, The Grey Dog's Coffee opened a third location in Chelsea, on 16th St. between 7th and 8th Ave. According to Dave in an interview with the Village Voice, the Chelsea location is about twice the size of the coffee shop on University Place. When asked if Grey Dog's was becoming a chain, Dave replied no. "Our lease is coming due at Carmine," says Dave. "And our shop in Chelsea was insurance in case the landlord didn't come through."

John, who grew up on 82nd St., recently moved from across the University Pl. shop and discovered it three weeks ago. The country atmosphere, service and coffee drew him in immediately. “Really good, homemade, and not corporate,” says John. “A touch of Bohemia, right?”

The University Place location has a certain uniqueness, according to John, who has always felt there is something vivacious about the Village, as the area bustles with students, artists, and restaurants. But to him, “Grey Dog just sits here, low-key,” he says. “And kicks tail.”

Photo Credit: "The Fashion Rag"