The Original Coney Island Cafe – a downtown St. Paul icon since 1923, according to the large lettering on the storefront glass – isn’t fully reopened for business.
It isn’t exactly closed, either.
“Do you know that I’m here every day? We’ve been keeping this up quite well,” said Mary Arvanitis, whose father founded the place nearly a century ago, housed in two adjoining properties that are considered the oldest commercial buildings in downtown.
The St. Peter Street eatery renews its liquor license annually, Arvanitis says, waxing nostalgic about the 1930s refrigerator, antique jukebox and penny scale, all still in operation.
“We’ve had our licenses since 1923,” she said.
The cafe stopped serving its signature Coney Island hot dogs and closed for regular service in 1994, when Arvanitis’ late mother fell ill.
Since then, Arvanitis and her siblings have opened the tavern for special events from time to time, such as the Republican National Convention in 2008.
“The Red Bull (Crashed Ice competition) and the Winter Carnival, the Torchlight Parade, specifically, we were open,” she said. “It went fabulously.”
Between private parties and big events, the bar side of the Original Coney Island Cafe has been a little busier than usual.
On Saturday afternoon, March 17, the Original Coney Island is having a private event for the St. Patrick’s Association, which is hosting the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade at noon downtown.
Could this be a sign that the hot dogs will someday sizzle again at 444 St. Peter St.? Maybe.
It’s definitely a sign, Arvanitis says, that the family business is not up for sale. Her parents fought off offers over the years, and in honor of their memory, she says, she will, too.
“I wouldn’t think of selling, and that’s part of the glory of all of this,” Arvanitis says. “We’re part of history.”
Frederick Melo can be reached at 651-228-2172. Follow him at twitter.com/FrederickMelo.
BOOK A PARTY
The Original Coney Island is available for private parties and events. Call 651-224-8287.
