Living Goddess Martha Stewart Is Launching a Chain of Cafes

There is nothing Martha Stewart cannot do. This year, the professional perfectionist is diving into the hospitality business by launching a chain of small coffee shops called Martha Stewart’s Café.

Stewart opened the first Martha Stewart Café inside the lobby of the headquarters of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in 2015. From morning until night the cafe does a brisk business serving office workers in Manhattan’s West Chelsea neighborhood.

Macy’s executives noted that the concept — which was designed with the help of Stewart’s test kitchen chefs and art directors who work on the magazine and Martha Stewart merchandise — could be an extension of their partnership with Martha and her sheets, dishes, towels, and couches. Now, next to the home section at Macy’s, instead of a Nespresso kiosk or Macy’s Taste Bar, there will be a Martha Stewart Café.

Two new locations have been confirmed. The first, which opened this past weekend, lives inside the Macy’s at the Sacramento Golden 1 Center (414 K Street, Sacramento, Calif). The second opens next month in Dallas.

Stewart credits her team, including Thomas Joseph from the MSLO kitchens, head of facilities Lynn Goodwin, art directors Molly Baker, Soyoung Oh, and Jaspal Riyait, web designer Jill Joyner, copy director Darcy Smith, director of Information Technology Eric Crepeau, and others with helping to design the concept. Martha Stewart’s Cafés are simple white, free-standing counters with pops of red, tidy merchandise displays, and a touch of black calligraphy.

At the New York location, Stewart outsources the pastries from bakeries like Bien Cuit in Brooklyn and Balthazar in Soho. Other outlets may serve pastries from local bakeries as well.

The coffee comes from Stewart’s own line; the tea is supplied by Arogya Teas. A full range of espresso and tea beverages are on offer, including an iced chai latte. In addition to spiced chai, tea drinkers can pick from Jasmine Silver Needle, Da Hong Pao, Emerald Mountain, Lemon Ginger, Peppermint, and Buckwheat teas. The teas can be brewed to order or purchased by the tin to take home. Coffee is also available in bags to be purchased and brewed at home.

Martha Stewart brand granola — in three different flavors: Almond and Golden Raisin, Sour Cherry and Walnut, and Apricot and Sesame Seed — is on offer by the bag, as are seasoned, candied, and spiced nuts from Torn Ranch, a California based purveyor.

Though reps haven’t confirmed where the next Martha Stewart’s Café will open after the Dallas kiosk begins serving, Macy’s locations in many metropolitan areas are undergoing renovations now. Watch out Starbucks, Martha is coming.

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