Wifey is an innovative space uniting culinary and artistic comfort

Janine Foeller and Simone Shubuck met as they were going through their respective ventures in the world of art. Their encounter flourished into a successful project — Wifey — that has managed to catch the attention of many for its singularity in terms of uniting culinary and artistic comfort.

Wifey is not a cafe

As one enters Wifey, an outlet situated on Flatbush Street in New York City, he or she might believe having just found the neighbourhood’s new trendy cafe. After all, everything in sight would press anyone to draw such a conclusion. What else could a space with a pink countertop loaded with pastries, a behemoth of a coffee machine, and multiple kitchen appliances be? Well, it turns out that the answer in the case of Wifey is a little less obvious than its owners would want it to be. The pop-up outlet is actually both an art gallery and a restoration space, all combined into a dynamic art project that constantly evolves under the supervision of its owners Janine Foeller and Simone Shubuck.

“We don’t even want the word ‘café’ uttered,” stated Janine Foeller about the New York City-based enterprise.

The concept behind Wifey is fresh and innovative

The space itself is meant to constantly change in appearance. Artworks from Simone Shubuck, who is a contemporary artist and the former owner of the then Chelsea-based art gallery Wallspace, can be found in every nook and cranny of the two-thousand-square-foot outlet.

“I wanted Simone to come in and conceive of the whole space, and integrate it with a food component and flowers,” Foeller explains about her vision for the pop-up, artistic enterprise.

At the time of writing, Wifey is showcasing a Simone Shubuck collection entitled “about process”. The latter comprises everything from large works spreading on varyingly-sized sheets of paper to sculptures and ceramics that are sometimes adorned by delicately arranged flowers. As the former floral designer for Babbo and Blue Hill, Janine Foeller is the one who complements her co-owners’ artistic endeavour by means of floral arrangements.

“Shubuck is being additive and experimental and just allowing it to grow, as even the food component will change,” adds Foeller.

The pop-up outlet’s menu has quite a particular characteristic

Just as Wifey’s decor, the outlet’s menu is tapping into constant evolution. The way it all works is made possible thanks to a roster of not less than 40 famous chefs — including the likes of Ignacio Mattos, Natasha Pickowicz, and Pam Yung — who provide the different food and drink items commercialized at Wifey. At the moment, the outlet’s limited sandwiches and pastries are provided by Café Altro Paradiso, thanks to the respective collaborations of Yung and Pickowicz. A notable dessert, the blackberry corn muffin, is served by Wifey through the joint effort of Hearth’s celebrated pastry chef Karen DeMasco.

Foeller sees Wifey’s roster system as an interesting way of tapping into the region’s creative community. The end result is an experience that stays fresh and novel as the days go by.

h/t: Blouin Art Info
Also available on Zyne.ca