G’dday mate! Crikey have I got a story for you. Rumor is that Ruby’s Cafe, the popular Australian concept restaurant from Wish You Were Here Group is preparing to open a brand new location at 225 West Fourth Street.
Ruby’s Cafe was founded by Australian entrepreneur Nicholas Mathers as part of his hospitality company, Wish You Were Here Group. Known for operating west coast icons like Kassi Beach House and Élephante in Los Angeles, Ruby’s was the group’s first foray into New York.
Paying homage to the Australian neighborhood café, Ruby’s serves fresh, home-style cooking in a relaxed and friendly setting. Inspired by the beach culture of Northern Sydney where Nicholas and his friends grew up, Ruby’s was established in 2002 in the west village and has remained a local staple ever since.
As the fourth Ruby’s to open in New York since 2002, the latest location will be replacing Riviera Café & Sports Bar at 224 West Street. Billed as “Greenwich Village’s original outdoor café and sports bar”, Riviera had been in operation since 1969. Known for its spacious interior and friendly atmosphere, Rivieria was a popular sports bar that featured over 100+ out-of-market games for guests from across the country. Sadly, after over 48 years of success in the neighborhood, Riviera closed for good in 2017 and the space has remained vacant since.
Hopefully, Ruby’s will have a run long enough to rival Riviera’s. With over 4,800 square feet of space divided between the ground floor and cellar, the new location is spacious and airy – perfect for recreating the inviting atmosphere of an Australian café. The closest Ruby’s café is in Soho at 219 Mulberry Street, so be sure to give them a visit if you want to try one of their famous Bronte burgers.
