2024 Village Awardee: Bus Stop Cafe, 597 Hudson Street
Village Preservation is very proud to honor Bus Stop Cafe as a 2024 Village Awardee! Join us in recognizing Bus Stop Cafe and five other remarkable awardees at Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Wednesday, June 12th at the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union. The awards ceremony will be emceed by legendary musician, writer, producer, and music historian Lenny Kaye, with registration free and open to all. Click here to register.
In 1995 Georgia Danalis opened this now-classic spot, the Bus Stop Cafe. Named for both the adjacent Hudson and Bethune Streets M11 bus stop and the Marilyn Monroe film “Bus Stop,” this diner has become a beloved spot for locals.
In addition to the regular diner offerings, Georgia served a traditional Greek spinach pie reflecting her immigrant heritage from the Greek town of Kefalonia, a beautiful island to the west of mainland Greece.
2024 Awardee Proprietor Georgia Danalis
When asked what was so special about the neighborhood, Georgia said, “The people. I feel like I am back in my village in Greece. I get up and go out and talk to everyone.” She raised two daughters in the neighborhood. Georgia proudly rejects the “no substitutes” philosophy, accommodating customers with individual requests.
The staff is loyal to and supportive of the owners as they are to them. Two staff members have worked in Georgia’s family’s businesses for over 40 years, including the manager. Others have been with them for 20 year. You can follow them on Facebook here and Instagram here.
During the pandemic, Bus Stop Cafe remained operational. While following all pandemic guidelines, Georgia continued the already established take-out service and supply delivery system.
Most important are the locals who come regularly. Staff know what dish or wine they want, what music they prefer, or how many napkins they desire.
Read more about Bus Stop Cafe from our June 2018 Business of the Month.
Don’t forget to join us for Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Wednesday, June 12th at the historic Great Hall at Cooper Union, with the awards ceremony will be emceed by legendary musician, writer, producer, and music historian Lenny Kaye. Registration is free and open to all — click here to register.