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A sign has appeared in the window of a longtime Amsterdam Avenue cafe, and for many in the neighborhood, it marks the end of an era.
Edgar’s Cafe, the gothic-themed neighborhood institution at 650 Amsterdam Avenue (between 91st and 92nd Streets), will serve its last cup of coffee on April 30 after nearly four decades in business. Owner Ben told ILTUWS the reason for the closing is straightforward: he can no longer afford the rent.
“To our beloved customers & neighbors,” reads a handwritten sign in the cafe’s window. “With great sadness, we announce that we will be closing on April 30th after 38 wonderful years in the neighborhood.”
The cafe’s name and decor pay tribute to Edgar Allan Poe, who resided near West 84th Street from March 1844 to August 1845, during which time he wrote “The Raven.” The interior features gothic Italian-inspired design with high arched ceilings and dim lighting — an atmosphere that earned the spot a devoted following of locals over the years.
Edgar’s actually has roots a few blocks south. The original location, at 255 West 84th Street, closed around 2011 — also reportedly because the owners could not afford the lease. The Amsterdam Avenue outpost, which had been open alongside the 84th Street location, became the sole surviving branch, and has remained a neighborhood fixture ever since.
The cafe has had its share of attention over the years. In 2021, ILTUWS visited Edgar’s after a New York Post story compared Ben to the “Soup Nazi,” with allegations that he had banned customers for dining at competing restaurants nearby. Staff pushed back on the characterizations, and Ben attributed much of the tension to pandemic-era customers who would occupy tables for hours without ordering. Whatever one made of the controversy, few would argue the place lacked personality.
The cafe has also served as a film location over the years, with credits that include Sex and the City and Law & Order, and one TripAdvisor reviewer noted it was reportedly a favorite of Ben Stiller.
Edgar’s final day is April 30.
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