Movers and Makers: Front Street Cafe in Fishtown
Front Street Cafe: 1253 N. Front Street Philadelphia, PA 19122
Small businesses are the heart and soul of the city. The Dominic Fuscia Team proudly supports all local Philly businesses. We are excited to announce our second local business spotlight, Front Street Cafe in Fishtown. This restaurants strives to offer the highest quality foods possible and utilizes local plant based farm to table and organic ingredients whenever available. With multiple beautiful spaces to dine (indoor and outdoor), a great atmosphere, and amazing food, this spot has become a local Fishtown favorite! So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the story of Front Street Cafe!
Q&A: Meet the Maker, Lee Larkin
When did you open Front Street Cafe? Why Fishtown?
We started working on the financing and concept in 2013 and finally opened in September of 2015. My wife Nicole and I both have dietary restrictions and choices. She is vegetarian and gluten free and I am allergic to red meat as the result of a tick bite I received in 2010. We both were frustrated with the choices at most restaurants in Philly and decided to open something that would have more choices for people like us.
A little glimpse of the menu. Front Street Cafe strives to offer the highest quality foods possible and utilizes local plant based farm to table and organic ingredients whenever available.
Why the restaurant industry? What is your background?
My first restaurant job was as a dishwasher when I was 14 years old. Through high school and college I worked as a busboy, waiter and bouncer. Later in life, I gained experience in Real Estate Development and construction, so it was more out of a desire to do something different that drew me into opening a restaurant.
What inspires you in Philadelphia and what are your favorite things to do in the city?
In the beginning, when we were designing the restaurant, we studied many public spaces and other businesses in the City and drew on them for inspiration. Some of the spaces that we admired were One Shot Coffee in Northern Liberties and Urban Jungle in South Philly. We have always spent a lot of time in Central America and the outdoor patio at Front Street Café is inspired by the open air restaurants in Costa Rica with live edge tables and bamboo. The outdoor bar is completely built using reclaimed materials from a 19th century warehouse that was being demolished in Francisville in Philly near North Broad Street.
I like riding my mountain bike in Valley Green or Fairmount Park. I enjoy doing anything with my kids (we have three daughters). Spending time with my family is always fun to me.
How did you come up with the name of your business?
To get a better idea of what running a restaurant really entailed, I read as many books by successful restaurateurs as possible. One of those books was “Setting the Table” by Danny Meyer (Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke.) His first restaurant was Union Square Café in Manhattan. His theory: naming his Café after the geographical location made him able to more firmly plant his flag of ownership. I took a page from his book and did the same with Front Street Café.
What attracted you to the neighborhood?
I lived in Fishtown in the late 90’s and then moved to Northern Liberties. I moved back to Fishtown in 2008 and I found myself disappointed in the lack of dining choices. There wasn’t even a place to get a good cup of coffee back then. I think we brought the first espresso machine to Fishtown.
What is the best advice you ever received?
In 2013, I was debating between opening Front Street Café or a large music venue in a warehouse I owned in North Philly. I walked one of my mentors, Mark Bee, (owner of Silk City, North 3rd & Franky Bradley’s) through both potential sites. He told me to go for the Café and I did. It was good advice because I realize now in hindsight and with years more business experience under my belt, the music venue would have most certainly failed. Not that opening the Café has been easy and in many ways, it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but Mark could see that it had a greater chance of success. It turned out to be sage advice.
What do you need for your workspace to feel like home?
As long as I have some of my books and photos of my Family in my space, it feels comfortable to me. I’m a strange guy in the sense that I prefer to work by myself in a very small office without windows to avoid distractions. When I was in my 20’s, I worked for a software start-up in the San Francisco financial district. I had an office with a view of the Oakland Bay Bridge and I found myself frequently just daydreaming out the window watching the ships go by in the Bay.
What is your favorite thing about Philly culture?
I’ve always been drawn to the grit and realness of Philly attitude. We don’t play games and tell you like it is.
Fun facts about your business, Go!
We are constantly aspiring to increase the quality of the food and service at Front Street Café. Our amazing Chef and Partner, Andrew Petruzelli is always pushing the boundaries of our Vegan menu and seems to have a lot of fun doing it. I currently own an organic farm and permaculture site in Costa Rica; I use the inspiration I learn from farming to influence how we present ourselves at Front Street Café.