In its current form, Retrography is a stylized photobooth in a Lower East Side storefront. However, the owners are looking to open the store behind the booth at 15 Essex St. into an intimate 14-seat café and bar. According to a post on the Retrography Instagram, the shift will convert this quick-stop attraction into a slower neighborhood anchor where guests are encouraged to slow down and stay.
Co-owner Ann Kim recently told What Now New York that the upcoming cafe will be “a fully customized, branded photobooth experience meets a place to gather, slow down, and stay.”
“We’ve built our photobooth entirely in-house to create a more intentional and curated experience beyond the traditional format,” she added. “It took us over a year to develop our filters, UI/UX, and video experience, and we’re now expanding that into our LES flagship.”
The planned café’s menu will offer ciabatta sandwiches, salty butter morning rolls, and seasonal dishes such as potato cream soup. These bites will be paired with a curated beverage program that includes espresso-based drinks, a selection of wines, and wine-based cocktails. The café is meant to fit seamlessly into the block’s existing character, with daily hours from 10 a.m. to midnight.
