Frustrated by the MTA’s nearly month-long closure of his café at the Rye train station, the owner of Winfield Street Coffee is threatening legal action and raising the possibility of closing shop for good.
Breno Donatti, Winfield’s owner, submitted plans to both the MTA and the Westchester County Department of Health to address concerns over unapproved kitchen appliances that led the agency to revoke his certificate of occupancy and health officials to follow suit by yanking his food service permit last month.
But a glimmer of hope arose on Tuesday as the health department OK’d Donatti’s renovation plan in writing. He told The Record he could have the work done and inspected by the county this week.
Doubts, however, remain whether the MTA, which owns the space, will issue an approval any time soon so Donatti can resume operations at the Metro-North station.
“There have been delays and a lack of clear direction from the MTA, which has been frustrating,” Donatti said. “At times it feels like the process is being drawn out unnecessarily, especially after we raised concerns about how things were handled.”
In a Sept. 6 email to MTA officials, Donatti asked for “clarity” because the “prolonged shutdown has significantly impacted our staff, operations, and customers.”
But the ongoing dispute with the MTA stretches far beyond Rye.
On Aug. 26, the MTA sent Donatti correspondence revoking earlier “conditional determination letters” that would have renewed his lease to operate a café at the Croton Metro-North station and open new operations at the Harrison station and in two subway stops in Manhattan.
The agency did not provide a reason for the revocations, according to Donatti.
The MTA is also auditing Winfield’s existing coffee outlets in the east 72nd and 86th streets subway stations, he said.
The business owner said he did not understand why his relationship with the MTA had soured. An MTA spokesman declined to answer questions about any aspect of the conflict.
Winfield shut down on Aug. 18 after inspections by health officials and the MTA uncovered an unapproved electric range and tabletop fryer.
Donatti acknowledged that the appliances were not specified in the kitchen’s plans and had been used to prepare food since the location opened. But he said the infractions were relatively minor and should not have required closing the fledgling location.
“Our goal is always to be compliant and have peace with” the MTA, Donatti said. “We have a 20-year lease and intend to serve the Rye community for even longer than that.”
The location was popular with Rye residents during the brief period it was open.
Winfield recently turned to its thousands of Instagram followers for help — asking them on Aug. 19 to complain to the MTA.
Donatti speculated that perhaps the pressure campaign on social media had angered MTA officials. But he is eager for an end to the conflict.
“We want to remain a partner at Rye Station, but the delays have become very difficult,” Donatti wrote the MTA in his Sept. 6 letter. “A clear and expedited decision is essential.”
