At This Chef’s New NYC Store, Vintage Finds Come With a Side of Seasonal Produce

One thing New York City always does well is host a multi-hyphenate business. Pick two or three things you love, and I guarantee there’s an existing store that offers the perfect fusion. If you love books and pickles, you can go to Sweet Pickle Books (yes, that’s a real place). If your jam is playing chess and having a drink, head to Greenwich Village. And as of last week, if your personal Venn diagram includes vintage homewares, upscale groceries, and specialty coffee, there’s now Gem Home in Nolita.

The shop comes from chef and restaurateur, Flynn McGarry, who got the idea from the grocer-cafes he visited as a kid in California. When he was still a teen, he became a chef and ran the cool-kid fine dining restaurant Gem in New York City for five years until he closed its doors last summer. He still runs its accompanying wine bar, Gem Wine, and the cool kids, such as Kaia Gerber, still flock.

And now I’ve joined that group, too, but at Gem Home, which is set in a cozy, yet minimalist space that McGarry designed himself with Louis Poulson lights and vintage pieces he's collected over the years. On my first visit, I immediately took stock of the one-of-a-kind ceramic soap dispensers and fridges full of Ghia (always a good sign for me). Vintage coupes lined the shelves, and I also spotted the retro bar cart items of my dreams. Plus, I’m always a sucker for handmade dishes that I definitely don’t have the room for but absolutely want. And the best part? Everything—even the produce—is tied with a handwritten price tag, and a chalkboard menu is updated daily. All of the tables are lined with taper candles, so it’s definitely not a cafe to bring your laptop to, but it’s a great pre-dinner or shopping spot.

As for the cafe part, it currently offers coffee and tea from La Cabra, as well as pastries, seasonal sandwiches, and small plates. I went on a Wednesday evening, so by the time I got there, a lot of menu items were crossed off the board, but I was still able to secure an iced coffee and a black cardamom brown butter roll.

Though it opens at 9 a.m., the shop slowly transitions during the day from a daytime coffee shop to an evening hangout spot. Flickering candlesticks and soft jazz set the tone for the final few hours, creating a lovely and cozy atmosphere, one I didn’t want to leave—but I know I'll be back again soon.

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We want to know: If you could open your own cafe and store, what would you sell?