Fate of Waterfront Express Coffee Shop Still Unknown

Choice Torre said he runs his coffee shop at the Dobbs Ferry train station not for the business, but for the community. 

"We treat people like we know them—and after a while we've gotten to know almost everyone," Torre said. "It's about the service and the smiles, not necessarily the coffee."

Tore has run Waterfront Express since 2003, when he took it over from his close friend Joe Radomski, who passed away.

"Joe said 'If I pass, will you take care of my family and my shop?'" Torre recalled. "I've been true to my word."

As part of an effort to revamp Dobbs Ferry's waterfront, the village hopes to renovate the building at the train station as well—and hopefully make more money from the space than Torre's $400 monthly rent. 

Dobbs Ferry is accepting public bids from potential building tenants through early August, with the understanding that anyone who leases the space will also finance some needed structural work like repairing windows and bathrooms. 

"We're looking for more capabilities for the building," said Village Administrator Marcus Serrano. "We welcome the current tenants to put in a bid, but we would like to see the shop open longer hours."

Torre, whose lease expired two years ago, said he was shocked when Serrano broke the news.

"He handed me a document on the street in front of the library," Torre said. "I had not expected it."

Torre and his wife Francisca haven't yet placed their bid to remain in the space.

"Paying more than $400 per month would be a hardship," Torre said. "We're not that busy." Torre also operates a taxi service from the same location.

And extending the hours would be difficult, he added, because there's a huge lull in traffic after 9 a.m. 

"Why would I stay open after the morning if nobody is going to come?" he asked. "We would only be bathroom monitors."

From Serrano and the village board's perspective, the station house—which hasn't been used for ticket sales in years—could expend fewer tax dollars and serve a better use.

"Last year, the village spent $14 to $15,000 to maintain the building," Serrano said. "That's significantly more than we collected in rent."

Serrano hopes to be able to present the board with a top bid by its meeting on August 23.

"We look forward to hearing any ideas  applicants have to make the space more profitable," Serrano said. "Then the board can weigh any options and factors they wish...thinking about the finances and what's best for the village."

At Tuesday's public board meeting, Waterfront Express' loyal customer Christopher Smith pleaded the board to work with Torre to keep his business open. "I think there is a balance that can be achieved," he said.

Torre just hopes to keep greeting customers and handing out coffee.

"The coffee isn't the best, but it ain't the words," he said. "The smiles are the greatest. If the people of Dobbs Ferry want me out, I'll gladly leave. But I don't think they do."

What's your take? What action should the village board take in August?

Editor's note: This article mistakenly wrote that Joe Radomski had been sick before he passed away. That was incorrect and as been changed.

Waterfront Express will continue to operate during its regular hours of  5 to 9:30 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.