Fashion Cafe

Fashion Cafe was an international restaurant chain that was based in New York City which featured celebrity models and had locations in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico, and Spain.[1] Francesco Buti and Tommaso Buti founded the restaurant in 1995 and were later arrested in Italy for fraud, bankruptcy, and money laundering in 1998.[1] The business was initially fronted by super models Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington.[2] The Associated Press called the chain "a couture version of Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock Cafe."[3]

Fashion Cafe
TypePrivate
IndustryRestaurant
FateBankruptcy
Founded1995 (1995) in New York City
Founders
  • Francesco Buti
  • Tommaso Buti
Defunct1999 (1999)
Headquarters
New York City, New York (state)
,
United States
Number of locations
5
Areas served
United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico, Spain
Key people
Owners
  • Francesco Buti
  • Tommaso Buti

History

The chain first opened in Rockefeller Center, New York City in 1995.[1] On Monday May 6, 1996, construction began on the London branch of the chain, though the London branch went bust in 1999, a year after it opened.[2] The London and New York locations became the primary locations of Fashion Cafe.

Fashion Cafe encountered difficulties from the beginning. Matt Haig, author of Brand Failures, said that "The connection between models and food was not an obvious one, and 'fashion' was not a theme that made people feel hungry."[4] A writer for the San Francisco Chronicle commented in 1995 that food was bad and the concept lacks in "dining sophistication"[5] while Ruth Reichl wrote in the New York Times that the food was "surprisingly decent" and that the cafe was "just another theme-park restaurant with an animated environment and a store on the side."[6]

Once the chain encountered difficulties, Campbell and MacPherson accused Tommaso Buti of stealing US$10,000 a day from company's money to cover debt for his personal lavish playboy lifestyle, after asking the two to invest in the chain. Schiffer withdrew from the venture, blaming old issues with Campbell.[4] The Rockefeller Center Fashion Cafe closed in 1998.[1] On December 11, 2000 the Federal Government of the United States filed charges against the founders, accusing them of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering.[1]

Brothers Tommaso and Francesco Buti were each charged in New York State USA and Milan with 35 counts of wire fraud, 14 counts of stolen property transportation, 1 count of money laundering and 1 count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to transport stolen property in interstate and foreign commerce. They could face fines and prison terms of 5 to 20 years on each count.

Tommaso Buti was granted a full pardon by President Donald Trump on 19 January 2021 before being tried on any charges.

References
  1. Saulny, Susan (December 12, 2000). "Businessmen Who Created Fashion Cafe Are Hit With Fraud Charges". The New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  2. "Fashion Cafe, Planet Hollywood square off". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. May 8, 1996. p. A2. Retrieved July 5, 2011 – via Google Books.
  3. "Trendy celebrity crowd packs opening of chic Fashion Cafe". Bangor Daily News. Associated Press. April 10, 1995. p. C6. Retrieved July 5, 2011 – via Google Books.
  4. Haig, Matt (2011). Brand Failures: The Truth about the 100 Biggest Branding Mistakes of All Times. Kogan Page Publishers. p. 141. ISBN 9780749462994. Retrieved July 5, 2011 – via Google Books.
  5. Rosenthal, Phil (June 20, 1995). "'Chic' Fashion Cafe No Model Restaurant / No supermodels but lots of bad food". San Francisco Chronicle.
  6. Reichl, Ruth (April 21, 1995). "Diner's Journal". New York Times.
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