About Us
Our Story
We didn’t set out to start a business—we wanted to create a home.
Back in the '90s, we were a tiny coffee shop with a lot of heart, a few mismatched tables, and a menu that came together with some help from our regulars. Our mother and her friends pitched in to cook, and we served up the kind of food we grew up on—comforting, familiar, and full of love. Truthfully, we were winging it more often than not. But we were having a lot of fun, and somehow, it worked out.
Today, Grey Dog has grown into six bustling cafes, fortunate enough to call some of New York's most storied neighborhoods home. Our menu, still rooted in those early dishes, is a love letter to home-cooked Americana with options for everyone.
Proudly, our stores remain homes before anything else, packed with nostalgia, and an appreciation for life's simple pleasures —somewhere to leave your worries at the door and soak in a little piece of New York City magic.
And then there’s Moose & Goose—the two pups who gave us our name. Moose was white, Goose was black, and together, they made a Grey Dog. That same love, loyalty, and companionship is what we hope every guest feels when they walk through our doors.
We’re proud of our Michigan roots (Go Blue!), and even prouder of the community we’ve built right here in New York City.
So come on in. Sit down, stay a while, and become part of the story.
Our Team
This is our 2026 team photo. We've taken one every year since 1996, and you can find them hanging in all six locations.
1996
Brothers Dave and Pete got the crazy idea to open a coffee shop in the West Village. They named it Grey Dog's Coffee as a tribute to their dogs, Moose and Goose.
2001
A calm and peaceful morning turned into a nightmare as the Twin Towers fell. A toxic dust cloud filled the sky and covered Carmine Street in darkness. It would be months before we played music again.
2007
The Grey Dog Union Square opened. We never set out to have multiple locations, but eventually realized it would be a good thing.
2009
The Grey Dog Chelsea opened. Once again, the thought of expanding wasn't a driving factor in opening number three. With our Carmine Street lease in question, we felt we needed a permanent place for the bakery and catering leg of the business to operate out of, so we chose the 16th Street store for its huge basement and quiet charm. The Village Voice announced our arrival with "The Grey Dog has fetched its way into Chelsea," calling us kind of like your mother's kitchen if she were young, artsy, and liked everything from Bob Dylan to Jay-Z.
2011
The original Grey Dog at 33 Carmine Street closed. Greedy landlord, we'll leave it at that. A funeral was held, and the entire neighborhood attended. We danced and cried our way to the new Mulberry location, where we hung up our sign and began doing business the very next day as The Grey Dog Nolita.
2014
The Grey Dog returned to its West Village roots on Carmine Street. Again, expansion wasn't top of mind. We just wanted to go home.
2020
The Grey Dog Flatiron was scheduled to open on March 20, 2020. That very same day, NYC shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We eventually opened for outdoor seating in September and officially moved in the following year. Number five was finally a real business decision. After twenty-four years, we felt the world would be a better place with more Grey Dogs.
2026
The Grey Dog Columbus Circle opens, serving Midtown Manhattan and the Upper West Side.