Describes his exit from a nightclub in a new white Ford Expedition, cell phone pressed to his ear A young woman in a silver-lame dress and silver spike heels rushes from the club and runs with little sandpiper steps up the street, chasing him, shouting, "Stop, Jimmy, stop! I enjoy the food every time I eat there. We will be in contact soon. Owner Abbe Katechis chatted with. 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. Someone can work a floor and meet three to four hundred people, all in one night.". Pabn secured a venue, Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, which was relatively easy since he had known its owner, Jimmy Rodrguez, and Pabn's Latino Sports Ventures, Inc. had hosted events there. (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. Located at 1001 Castle Hill Avenue, local elected officials were in attendance to meet with Jimmys Grand Cafe owner Jimmy Mitsios. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The Fordham Plaza project rerouted bus routes in the plaza, added more green space, public toilets, seating areas and a cafe space and kiosks. With the sports stars in tow, other celebrities followed. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Reserve a table today! Closing the restaurant also fit Mr. Rodriguez's plans to expand the Jimmy's brand to London and other European cities, he said. Rodriguez became a man-about-town. Jimmy John's Near Me. A friend of Rodriguez's agreed to lend him the money and, in 1993, Jimmy's Bronx Caf opened. Jimmy's closed for the final time after a quiet night on New Year's Eve. Reyes, a close friend, was also helping him manage the restaurant. 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. The walls at Jimmy's, which opened in 1993, were known for their display of Mr. Rodriguez's impressive collection of offbeat memorabilia, which included lederhosen worn by the Duke of Windsor on a 1937 trip to Austria and a dress that Jennifer Lopez wore to the Oscar ceremonies. Plan an event now in our upstairs Party Room. The City Island opening marks the latest in a string of Bronx restaurants the Rodriguez clan has executed since the mid 1980s, when the siblings' grandfather, Jimmy Rodriguez Sr., opened Mariscos Del Caribe. Jimmy's Bronx Cafe is a crowded bar, restaurant and nightclub with plenty of diversity in its clientele and menu. The wife of embattled restaurateur Jimmy Rodriguez says he cheated on her, lied to her and even hit her with his car - but he finally went too far when he fathered a child with his mistress, a. Meanwhile, he began a relationship with Michael Michelle, former actress on the hit show ER. The renowned Italian eatery has been there for five generations. That means if you're in the zone or in-store, you can always count on a Freaky Fresh sandwich made Freaky Fast . 1001 Castle Hill Ave Rodriguez began popping up in the society columns and he appeared in a celebrity fashion show. Shortstop Derek Jeter held parties in the restaurant. Jimmy John's. . Bronx, It runs right through my veins.". His four restaurants, Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, Jimmy's City. "Jimmy's Bronx Cafe came to the neighborhood and kind of single-handedly revitalized it. 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.. At Jimmy's Uptown, the boss ordered a vodka tonic and looked around. Their restaurants serve different cuisines, in different parts of the Bronx. In the case of Jimmy's Grand Cafe, located at 1001 Castle Hill Ave. in the Bronx, a small parking lot has been transformed into an outdoor dining oasis. A new restaurant is ready to satisfy Bronxites appetites. We knew something wasnt right when he sold his beautiful [Sutton Place] penthouse.. The vibrant dcor and friendly staff make this a grea Read more Ask the Community Ask a question Q: Born Jaime Rodriguez Jr. in 1963(? Oh yes you can, because Im going to be right there with you. We deliver within 5 minutes of our stores and not farther to maximize freshness. Another group of investors would run the X Bar, a cocktail lounge, in an adjacent space. I received it on bread, when I asked the cashier about it she was extremely rude about it. Sign up with Facebook or Sign up with email 38 Tips and reviews The entire team donated signed jerseys to decorate the restaurant's walls. ``It's a sad day.'' Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant dishes up classic American cuisine as well as tasty Latin American dishes. ''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. Sort by: Distance Price Relevance. "My favorite restaurant in the Bronx is Don Coqui," Fat Joe said. He found an abandoned car dealership located on the same expressway where he and his father had once hawked seafood. 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. The building has one floor. Rodriguez, Jimmy, photograph. By this time Rodriguez had dropped out of high school to help run the business full-time. Jennifer Lopez posed for a photo with. Don Coqui is a mini-chain in the New York metro area started by Jimmy Rodriguez, the former owner of the iconic, now-shuttered Jimmy's Bronx Cafe. Not Jimmy Butler the NBA star, and definitely not Jimmy Hoffa. ''It's a sad day.''. David Bowie at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe. ''OH, Jimmy, can I come to your next penthouse party?''. Derek Jeter celebrated two birthdays there. Super Elite Parking Inc. 257 E 187th St. Bronx. Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, which opened in 1993, hosted Fidel Castro while he was visiting New York in 1995 and held two birthday celebrations for Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. Jaleene Rodriguez with Jimmy Rodriguez at new Puerto Rican restaurant Don Coqui in City Island. Jimmy's Chimichurri Sauce This spicy sauce tops the adobo chicken that is a favorite at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe in New York City. All Rights Reserved. The food drew directly from the menu at Marisco del Caribe. The total living area is 6,796 sqft. Ruben Sierra, a Yankees outfielder, invested $450,000 in the restaurant. he asked them. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Rep. Jose Serrano have been spotted at Don Coqui. Jimmy's Grand Frittata Open faced omelette with shrimp, chorizo, maduros, black beans, jack cheese and roasted red pepper. ''I like to introduce people who wouldn't normally meet each other,'' he said. Specialties: Jimmy John's spend 6 hours prepping every day. The workers, who include about a dozen of his relatives, will have the chance to interview at the new restaurant, he said. Advertisement. He said he had not yet decided which of the remaining three to close. Filter. Known for its fun, laid-back vibe and fantastic food. Such cooing you would expect from the pouting lips of one of the Hilton sisters, but from a woman past middle age with a Nancy Reagan-style coiffure, a Chanel suit and a pearl necklace? Joe was the chef. On any given evening, the crowd at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe may include such locals as Tito Puente, John Leguizamo, the actress Jennifer Lopez, Scan (Puffy) Combs, and Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, as well as the occasional Manhattan scenester such as the "Post's" Richard Johnson and the party designer Robert Isabell. Visitors only. 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. It remains the largest Latin restaurant, bar and dance venue in the country. During its 10 years in business, the restaurant became something of a landmark in the Bronx. Specialties: Known for its fun, laid-back vibe and fantastic food, Jimmy's Grand Cafe is a favorite among locals in the Bronx, NY. The Cuban leader, spurned by the mayor, instead visited Jimmy's Bronx Cafe. With a clean credit rating and a successful restaurant, he turned to local banks for the $2.5 million asking price. During Fidel Castro's 1995 visit to New York, Rodriguez hosted a dinner for the Cuban dictator. September 2000. Rodriguez has decided to lease the space to Felix Cabrera, who plans to open a seafood eatery there, the Times said. Seafood and rice dish served with a cocktail at the waterfront restaurant. Bill Cosby turned up occasionally, as did Tito Puente, David Bowie and a host of other sports stars, musicians, Bronx politicians and ordinary folks. This story has been shared 122,910 times. Topped with mozzarella cheese and meat sauce. But I have kids at home and I couldnt take the chance, she said. A close friend later described Rodriguez to Crain's New York Business, saying "Jimmy walks into a room, and he'll say hello to 100 people before he leaves." Describes the scene as Rodriguez talks to Bronx Democratic Party chairman Roberto Ramirez in his club From across the room, Jimmy might be mistaken for a young James Brolin At a time when retro, languid, living-roomy lounges like Wax Bar, Jet Lounge and Spy Bar are replacing big dance clubs in downtown Manhattan, the scene at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe revolves around dancing. 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 . Seafood and rice dish served with a cocktail at the waterfront restaurant. Still, the Bronx Cafe remained his flagship, mentioned in popular songs -- most famously in Angie Martinez's ''Live at Jimmy's,'' featuring the rapper Big Pun. The answer was, Not at this time. . Jimmys Grand Cafe owner, Jimmy Mitsios stands proudly with Assemblyman Michael Benedetto. "Security was all over the place and I couldn't get close to him." He secured an elegant venueJimmy's Bronx Caf. Soon after, when she went to his office to get her support money, he hit her with his car, leaving me in agony on the pavement, the filing says. ''I've heard the stories,'' the woman teased from her table in the sleek red-and-white dining room of Jimmy's Downtown. For the last five years, in fact, the kitchen at Jimmy's has catered postgame clubhouse meals for the Yankees and opposing teams, a job that Mr. Rodriguez said would probably be taken over by Jimmy's Uptown. Perched on a hillside, Jimmy's Bronx Caf included a 300-seat dining room with wrap-around windows looking out to Manhattan. The delicatessen is still run by the family that started it all.still serving the children and grand-children of our original customers. Career: Restaurateur. Diddy Combs and American Express CEO Ken Chenault. The food was again Caribbean but with modern touchesyucca crusted scallops, duck empanadas, black bass in grapefruit mustard salsa. We learned from him.". After avoiding the press for several days, Rodriguez finally gave an interview to The New York Times. & ptn=3 & fclid=b873647d-d265-11ec-bf94-e0ea3b24342d & u . "People are clamoring for us to . Jimmy's Cafe Restaurant (Now Closed) Diner $ $$$ By 10 p.m., he was ready to continue his rounds in Harlem. Rodriguez's fortunes took a downward spiral at the end of 2003. The property is 87 years old, which is eight year older than the average age of a building in Bronxof 79 years. Thanks for contacting us. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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. Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, which opened in 1993, hosted Fidel Castro while he was visiting New York in 1995 and held two birthday celebrations for Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. His four restaurants, Jimmys Bronx Cafe, Jimmys City Island, Jimmys Uptown in Harlem and Jimmys Downtown are now either closed or under new management. Photo by Silvio Pacifico|Photo by Silvio Pacifico|Photo by Silvio Pacifico|Photo by Silvio Pacifico. Like toots Shor's in the fifties, Jimmy's mix includes politicians, musicians, and athletes (as opposed to the prescription SoHo cocktail of models, rockers, artists, and actors). As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Fordham Rd /Major Deegan Creator DON COQUI 1980 - Present 43 years. Marios has been there for 100 years. As he walked outside, he noticed that the pet bar (he keeps water and doggy treats there) was almost dry. Its owner, Jimmy Rodrguez, is the founder of Jimmy's Bronx Cafe and the son of the founder of Marisco del Caribe in the Bronx. And in May 2002, he ventured into the tony enclave of Sutton Place to open Jimmy's Downtown. Younger brother Jimmy, 20, manages Don Coqui's White Plains spot. 281 W Fordham Rd. At Jimmys Uptown in Harlem, signs are posted directing anyone owed money to call a phone number that rings at a Bronx dry-cleaning chain, Kleen King. Terms of Use, Alex Rodriguez: 1975: Baseball Player Biography. /a > Salsa at Mambo 101 '' politician. In those final moments, he didnt stop thinking about his family. Club open Thursday through Sunday 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. A.E.,. $14.50 + Jumbo 3 Egg Omelets Greek Omelette Ive been disrespected too much, said Elaine Rodriguez, whos divorcing the nightlife impresario after two decades of marriage. Shortcut to Puerto Rico 1315 Commerce Ave. Bronx NY 10461 Great food and great atmosphere! 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. Even before construction was finished, Rodriguez proved his celebrity pull when Woody Allen hosted an opening party for his film Sweet and Lowdown in the half-finished restaurant. Ohana Restaurant Corp is the license holder registered here. A day after shaking hands with Clinton at the UN, Castro was uptown at Riverside Church holding 3,000 . Marisco del Caribe, Bronx, NY, owner/manager, late 1980s-1993; Jimmy's Bronx Caf, Bronx, NY, owner/manager, 1993-2003; Jimmy's Uptown in Harlem, New York, NY, owner, 2000-04; Jimmy's Downtown, New York, NY, owner, 2002-04; Jimmy's City Island, Bronx, NY, owner, 2003-04. A Puerto Rican restaurant would not be complete without frozen cocktails. Valet only. Jimmy is very friendly and always makes me feel welcomed. is a favorite among locals in the Bronx, NY. $6.50 2 hours. As our Amy Yensi writes, now their loved ones are hoping to keep their recipes and legacies alive. Will this 23-year-old tutor win her 23rd Jeopardy! game? He made sure that players who visited nearby Yankee Stadium stopped off at his nephew's restaurant. It began by selling pizza slices for a nickel. By creating an account you are able to follow friends and experts you trust and see the places they've recommended. Known for its fun, laid-back vibe and fantastic food, Jimmy's Grand Cafe is a favorite among locals in the Bronx, NY. 544 West 27th Street. Jennifer Lopez posed for a photo with Torres at Jimmys, after enjoying his Sazon that he learned in his hometown of Guayama, Puerto Rico. His health began to decline. He persuaded a key officialCongressman Jos Serrano. "The area that we are in was neglected for decades," Montana relates. 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