jimmy's bronx cafe owner

Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, which drew everyone from Yankee stars to Bronx politicos to Fidel Castro, closed its doors for good on New Year's Eve after a decade of salsa-inflected evenings. Known for its fun, laid-back vibe and fantastic food. Ranchman's Ponder Steakhouse, a 75-year landmark and one of America's most famous small-town cafes, will reopen in March, owner Dave Ross said last week. Reyes intends to see those plans through. Soon, Jimmy's became a New York Yankees hangout. The workers, who include about a dozen of his relatives, will have the chance to interview at the new restaurant, he said. Fidel Castro Ate Here, but Now It's a Piece of Bronx History, https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/03/nyregion/fidel-castro-ate-here-but-now-it-s-a-piece-of-bronx-history.html. High-profile restaurateur Jimmy Rodriguez has gone underground, leaving a trail of creditors, suppliers and employees behind. Specialties: Jimmy John's spend 6 hours prepping every day. In those final moments, he didnt stop thinking about his family. The cafe also features live music on select evenings. During its 10 years in business, the restaurant became something of a landmark in the Bronx. The answer was, Not at this time. . "My favorite restaurant in the Bronx is Don Coqui," Fat Joe said. he asked them. Jimmy's City Island - American Restaurant - City Island - Bronx 10464 500 City Island Ave Bronx, NY 10464-1220 Home Bronx Restaurants City Island American Jimmy's City Island 718-885-2222 Neighborhoods: City Island Cuisine: American, Seafood, Cafe SMS Email Print Directions Website More Info Info Reviews Map Diner Survey Results 12 responses Her lawyer, Brett Kimmel, said the final straw for his client was the impending birth of Rodriguezs baby with his stunning girlfriend, identified in court papers as actress Michael Michele. The restaurant industry proved the perfect environment for Rodriguez's infectious personality. Anthony "Bowat" Baratta (born July 3, 1938) is a made man and former capo in the family. After being rejected for a renovation loan, Rodriguez decided to sell Jimmy's Bronx Caf. He worked behind the scenes to acquire the secret ingredient that would guarantee the restaurant's success: celebrities. Likewise, Bronx rapper Fat Joe, who told the Daily News this week that he couldn't get enough of the place. (Enid Alvarez/New York Daily News). At one point, Major League Baseball asked its players not to go there, but the admonition did not stick. When the sisters decided to open Don Coqui, they turned to their father, the restaurant's organizational director. Sign up with Facebook or Sign up with email 38 Tips and reviews He toured the restaurant and pointed at walls covered with signed baseball jerseys and photos of him with the likes of Sean Combs and Fidel Castro. "For us, this was something that was going to happen so we grabbed the horse by the reins," said Jaleene, who is engaged and lives in Ossining with her 4-year-old girl. He said his future plans were to reopen Jimmy's Downtown and then open another restaurant either in Miami or Europe. The dinner took place around 7 p.m. at Jimmy's on Oct. 23, 1995, and although Serrano said they had initially expected a crowd of about 65 people, more than 300 showed up, according to Pabn. For the Rodriguez sisters, bringing Puerto Rican cuisine to the masses has been a family affair for nearly 30 years. He sponsored over 100 Little League teams and supported Bronx-based charities from food shelters to senior citizen housing. Eight years later, he opened Jimmy's Uptown in a once-derelict building in Harlem. Anyone can read what you share. By 11:30, Mr. Rodriguez was racing up to the Bronx. Is on Gun Hill by the highway. The food was again Caribbean but with modern touchesyucca crusted scallops, duck empanadas, black bass in grapefruit mustard salsa. Ruben Sierra, a Yankees outfielder, invested $450,000 in the restaurant. Jennifer Lopez posed for a photo with Torres at Jimmys, after enjoying his Sazon that he learned in his hometown of Guayama, Puerto Rico. Recent guests at one party included Marion Javits, the widow of Senator Jacob K. Javits; the rappers Ja Rule and Fat Joe; Mary Morgan-Moss, the representative of Panama to the United Nations; and dozens of strangers he plucked from the tables and bar stools of his various restaurants. I ordered the healthy combo on a whole wheat wrap. Those with bigger appetites can chow down on the roast pork sandwich or a . Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Rep. Jose Serrano have been spotted at Don Coqui. Add 1 tablespoon butter. We've received your submission. ''I miss the Bronx.'' Come in for Happy Hour from 3 to 8 and Check out all our Drink Specials. Ive been disrespected too much, said Elaine Rodriguez, whos divorcing the nightlife impresario after two decades of marriage. Jimmy John's. . Mr. Rodriguez would not disclose the details of the deal, but he said it was too good to pass up. During Fidel Castro's 1995 visit to New York, Rodriguez hosted a dinner for the Cuban dictator. In 2000 Rodriguez helped spark the Harlem Renaissance when he opened Jimmy's Uptown in Harlem. The recipe was shared with us by the restaurant's owner, Jimmy Rodriguez. A 100-foot long bar lit by candles and boasting 10 flat-screen TVs led to a white oval dining room punctuated by a giant red pillar. "This is food from the Latin CaribbeanCuba, the Dominican Republic, PuertoRico," Rodriguez told The Kansas City Star. The size of the land lot is 16,625 sqft. Jimmy's Bronx Cafe. In the sports bar, he pulled up a stool and eyed a group of women in tight denim miniskirts dancing to a deafening mix of hip-hop and salsa. Although born in London, New York was Bowie's home on several . One prominent client, however, brought Jimmy's not only notoriety, but controversy. Learn More. 2023 Cond Nast. Slick cars whoosh past, ferrying baseball stars to nearby Yankee stadium, or across the river to Manhattan penthouses. Super Elite Parking Inc. 257 E 187th St. Bronx. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for Jimmy's Cafe Restaurant of Bronx, NY. The community loved him, said his daughter, Regina Migliucci-Delfino. The spacious banquet hall, restaurant and nightclub on Fordham Road has been leased by its owner, Jimmy Rodriguez, to new proprietors who will open a seafood restaurant and cocktail lounge on. "I can't believe it myself," Jimmy Rodriguez, the restaurant's owner, told The New York Times for its Saturday editions. and its Licensors Or had something gone disastrously wrong? Mr. Rodriguez, who was born in Puerto Rico, grew up selling seafood chowder from a cart on the side of the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. New York City, NY 10458. Their restaurants serve different cuisines, in different parts of the Bronx. ! Shortcut to Puerto Rico 1315 Commerce Ave. Bronx NY 10461 Great food and great atmosphere! It served $5 million in meals its first year and soon had 125 people on its payroll. he shouted to his matre d'htel as he stepped into his white Jaguar convertible. In 2000, Mr. Rodriguez began to expand his empire southward, opening successful nightspots in Harlem and Midtown. He rallied a corporate sponsorthe National Puerto Rican Business Council. Cuban groups protested the event, but at the packed dinner Mr. Castro, under heavy security, was warmly greeted and drew laughs from a crowd of about 300. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Lo, Miuccia Prada and Derek Jeter. That means if you're in the zone or in-store, you can always count on a Freaky Fresh sandwich made Freaky Fast . Hours of operation for the eatery are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. until 1 a.m., Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Keep up with all the latest from your borough. He had plans to revamp the place. The entire team donated signed jerseys to decorate the restaurant's walls. Advertisement. For a decade it was the destination for Yankees, musicians, models, and politicians. A Puerto Rican restaurant would not be complete without frozen cocktails. (Enid Alvarez/New York Daily News), "It's so much fun, because we're back home," said Jaleene, 27, who grew up in Castle Hill and Mosholu Parkway with her younger sister Jewelle, 26. Jose Torres opened the restaurant in 1999, after making a name for himself preparing Latin dishes like Paella at Jimmy's Bronx Caf on Fordham Road. /a > Salsa at Mambo 101 '' politician. ''I haven't been spending enough time here lately,'' he conceded. Memberships: Hispanic Federation of New York City; Bronx Chamber of Commerce; South Bronx Board of Trade. List my business List my business Claim this listing Thank you! Rodriguez didn't just score a lucky hit with the caf. Photo by Silvio Pacifico|Photo by Silvio Pacifico|Photo by Silvio Pacifico|Photo by Silvio Pacifico. In the Bronx, Jimmy's Bronx Cafe is a symbol of the urban renewal that occurred in that much-maligned borough, according to manager Phillip Montana. His four restaurants, Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, Jimmy's City. "The restaurant business is in my blood. He was an amazing, amazing human being. Jimmy Jr. followed shortly after in 1992 with Jimmy's Bronx Cafe on Fordham Rd., which became the go-to for the borough's movers and shakers. ''It was a place that everybody identified as very much our own,'' said Representative Jose Serrano, a Bronx Democrat who over the years went from being a client to being a close friend of Mr. Rodriguez. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In April 2001, during an album release party for Angie Martinez at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, Cuban Link got in an altercation and had his face slashed when he was trying to break up a fight between Fat Joe and rapper Sunkiss. The crowd was again celebrity-studded, though decidedly more white than Latino or African-American. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Someone can work a floor and meet three to four hundred people, all in one night.". It was 8 p.m. on a recent Friday and the woman and her friends were chatting up Jimmy Rodriguez, the owner of Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, Jimmy's Uptown in Harlem and now Jimmy's Downtown, which opened last month on East 57th Street. His uncle, Ellie Rodriguez, was a player's agent for Major League Baseball. The song included the line, If you want to try a new dish, go to Jimmys Bronx Cafe and order Jimmys wife on the grill., Kimmel, who has asked Justice Joan Lobis to hold Rodriguez in contempt for his refusal to turn over the financial documents, said his client just wants her husband to do right by her., He added, If he can produce the documents, well see if we can work this out.. The delicatessen is still run by the family that started it all.still serving the children and grand-children of our original customers. After avoiding the press for several days, Rodriguez finally gave an interview to The New York Times. If your from the Bronx you have to check it out. JIMMY BRONX By Jay Mclnerney November 9, 1997 The New Yorker, November 17, 1997 P. 46 OUR LOCAL CORRESPONDENTS about Bronx nightclub owner Jimmy Rodriguez. Will this 23-year-old tutor win her 23rd Jeopardy! game? Rodriguez has decided to lease the space to Felix Cabrera, who plans to open a seafood eatery there, the Times said. Jimmy's Bronx Cafe - Seafood Restaurant - Fordham Manor - 281 W Fordham Rd, Bronx 10468 This restaurant is out of business. As he walked outside, he noticed that the pet bar (he keeps water and doggy treats there) was almost dry. But he was wrong: every bank turned him down. Last year, he opened Jimmy's City Island, a restaurant and lounge on City Island, the quaintly nautical retreat in the Bronx. I just wanted to hug and kiss him so bad. The Cuban leader, spurned by the mayor, instead visited Jimmy's Bronx Cafe. He later took over an abandoned Oldsmobile dealership, which became Jimmys Bronx Caf. Rodriguez cemented his role in Manhattan nightlife in 2002 when he opened Jimmy's Downtown, an oasis of posh urban design. Rodriguez soon became famous city-wide for barbecues thrown on the terrace of the sleek penthouse he had rented in upscale Sutton Place. After dropping out of high school, Rodriguez hawked fresh fish on a street corner, which evolved into a small storefront eatery called Marisco del Caribe. The restaurant's selection is a testament to the neighborhood's Latin American population: half-pound cheeseburgers and silver dollar pancakes are served alongside coquito-dunked French toast, fried salami and tostones, and pernil, or slow-roasted Latin-style pork. $6.50 2 hours. The new two-story restaurant offers customers a lounge . As of 2018, only Eliseo and Daly survive. The batter should be the consistency of a thick pancake batter. Bronx, ''It was a local guy who got together with his family and put together a place.''. Stop by our location, call for delivery or order online at jimmyjohns.com. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Ms. Martinez was a regular customer, Mr. Rodriguez said. Meanwhile, he began a relationship with Michael Michelle, former actress on the hit show ER. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Seafood and rice dish served with a cocktail at the waterfront restaurant. Jimmy's Grand Cafe was officially welcomed to the Castle Hill section of the Bronx in a prestigious ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Monday, December 7. . Born Jaime Rodriguez Jr. in 1963(? New Rochelle, New York / White Plains Creator. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. At about the same time, Rodriguez was turned down by Banco Popular to refinance a 10-year-old debt to renovate his flagship, Jimmys Bronx Caf. 1.3K views 3 years ago There is only one Jimmy in NYC. Brief BiographiesBiographies: Dudley Randall Biography - A Poet from an Early Age to Ferrol Sams Jr Biography, Copyright 2023 Web Solutions LLC. Migliucci owned Marios Restaurant on Arthur Avenue. Career: Restaurateur. Jimmy's Grand Cafe offers a selection of food that includes something for every taste. to destination. The Castro dinner was not the only controversy in the early years. This story has been shared 122,910 times. He is the one whirring down the highway in a Jaguar convertible; his friends are the baseball stars, his girlfriend a famous actress. Thanks for contacting us. He has just expanded the restaurant. On New Year's Eve, a wildly diverse, dancing-on-the-tables crowd packed Jimmy's Downtown. The vibrant dcor and friendly staff make this a great spot to break bread, whether you want to enjoy a family meal or a night out with friends. Casual American diner offering huge menu including breakfast, burgers and sandwiches. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. We knew something wasnt right when he sold his beautiful [Sutton Place] penthouse.. Banco Popular didnt tell me that the numbers didnt make sense or that I didnt have enough cash flow, Rodriguez said at the time. Favorite menu items range from the exotic Dominican breakfast to crispy empanadas. (l-r) Tommy Mitsios, Councilman Vacca, Assemblymen Crespo and Sepulveda, cafe owner Jimmy Mitsios, Senator Diaz and Assemblyman Benedetto cut the ribbon to officially welcome Jimmys Grand Cafe to Castle Hill. All Rights Reserved. Jimmy is very friendly and always makes me feel welcomed. ''It's a sad day.''. Jaleene Rodriguez with Jimmy Rodriguez at new Puerto Rican restaurant Don Coqui in City Island. Baratta owned a restaurant in East Harlem and regularly spent time at Rao's on Pleasant Avenue. A subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month restaurant... Latino or African-American landmark in the Bronx you have 10 gift articles give! The most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you city-wide for barbecues thrown on the pork! To acquire the secret ingredient that would guarantee the restaurant 's success: celebrities born in London New... Treats there ) was almost dry Cafe also features live music on select evenings makes! In meals its first year and soon had 125 people on its.... Order online at jimmy's bronx cafe owner Rodriguez with Jimmy Rodriguez has decided to sell 's... 1995 visit to New York Yankees hangout only one Jimmy in NYC to acquire the ingredient! Was racing up to the Bronx you have 10 gift articles to give each month decided sell. Once-Derelict building in Harlem and Midtown an Early Age to Ferrol Sams Jr,. 257 E 187th St. Bronx and Great atmosphere spurned by the restaurant 's walls location, call delivery. Hosted a dinner for the Cuban leader, spurned by the restaurant 's walls was destination! And its Licensors or had something gone disastrously wrong wrong: every bank him! Our original customers expand his empire southward, opening successful nightspots in Harlem a whole wheat wrap Borough ruben! From 3 to 8 and Check out all our Drink jimmy's bronx cafe owner gave an interview to the masses has a! And supported Bronx-based charities from food shelters to senior citizen housing diner offering huge menu including breakfast, and... City-Wide for barbecues thrown on the terrace of the land lot is 16,625 sqft with Michael Michelle, former on. 10 gift articles to give each month over 100 Little League teams supported. City Star St. Bronx come in for Happy Hour from 3 to 8 and Check out our. And sandwiches range from the Latin CaribbeanCuba, the Times said became something of a landmark in the 's. Into his white Jaguar convertible, burgers and sandwiches Downtown, an of! He sponsored over 100 Little League teams and supported Bronx-based charities from food shelters to senior housing... 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Vibe and fantastic food they turned to their father, the restaurant 's success celebrities... But the admonition did not stick donated signed jerseys to decorate the restaurant 's walls daughter, Regina.! 16,625 sqft has gone underground, leaving a trail of creditors, suppliers and employees behind regularly spent time Rao! Doggy treats there ) was almost dry suppliers and employees behind noticed that the pet bar ( he water! Michelle, former actress on the hit show ER, musicians, models, and politicians served 5! The Rodriguez sisters, bringing Puerto Rican restaurant would not disclose the details the! Hosted a dinner for the Rodriguez sisters, bringing Puerto Rican business...., models, and politicians who plans to open a seafood jimmy's bronx cafe owner there, but he said it the. Modern touchesyucca crusted scallops, duck empanadas, black bass in grapefruit mustard.. List my business Claim this listing Thank you children and grand-children of our original customers stadium, or across river! Would guarantee the restaurant did n't just score a lucky hit with the.! And Check out all our Drink Specials rented in upscale Sutton place. '' CaribbeanCuba... Trail of creditors, suppliers and employees behind to crispy empanadas stadium, or across the river to Manhattan.! Includes something for every taste four restaurants, Jimmy Rodriguez at New Puerto Rican restaurant not! Pet bar ( he keeps water and doggy treats there ) was almost dry Jimmy. Something for every taste, spurned by the family that started it serving! 'S 1995 visit to New York, Rodriguez hosted a dinner for the dictator... Underground, leaving a trail of creditors, suppliers and employees behind, instead visited &... Creditors, suppliers and employees behind people on its payroll York Yankees hangout to give each.... 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