Where Film Meets Flavor: North Fork Arts Center Debuts Intimate Café Space

The North Fork Arts Center has opened a cozy new neighborhood café offering small plates, drinks and cakes to visitors who are looking for a sweet treat after a film or performance.

The café officially opened inside the Greenport theater, located at 211 Front Street, in early June and Executive Director Tony Spiridakis said the space can allow people to grab a small bite after viewing a film, show or visiting an exhibit.

Open daily from 3 to 11 p.m., the café invites art lovers, neighbors and visitors alike to relax, indulge and connect — especially before or after a scheduled event — with comfortable seating, intimate ambiance and a vibe that celebrates creativity and community.

“It’s there to keep the evening going,” Spiridakis said.

Originally built as The Metro in 1915, it was rebuilt after the legendary Hurricane of 1938. Then renamed the Greenport Theatre, it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and Spiridakis purchased it in 2023 with the goal of a total renovation.

“When we got the theater, we had so many other things to take care of,” he said.

But during construction, they realized there was a small area that was previously used as a concession, equipped with an espresso machine left behind.

After a fresh paint job and some more cleaning up, the café opened with a small menu of flaky croissants, artisanal charcuterie boards, beer, wine, espresso and a rotating “cake of the week” brought in from Mattituck’s Ali Katz Kitchen.

“It’s a simple menu, but a good excuse to hang out after a movie and talk about it over beer or wine and a piece of cake,” Spiridakis said. “It’s another part of the building we needed to utilize to make this creative clubhouse continue to come alive.”