Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
A new coffee shop recently debuted at 528 E. 11th St., between Avenue A and Avenue B.
The storefront is now home to Gnihton, a brick-lined café serving coffee drinks, pastries, and sandwiches, run by Mariami Emukhvari (below), along with her business partner, Murtaz "Muro" Buskadze, and barista Giorgi "JK" Gagua. All three are originally from the country of Georgia.
We recently stopped by and spoke with Emukhvari about the shop's unusual name and her plans.
Why did you choose this neighborhood and this space?
I always wanted to start my own business, and the idea of owning a small business in the city felt like a dream. When I told Muro (below right) about it, he got interested right away and didn't hesitate to get involved.
We started looking for a small, cozy space for a coffee shop. I remember driving around for hours, and when we entered this neighborhood, I knew it would be the perfect place. This street has lots of stories to tell, and I wanted the coffee shop to be a small part of that.
The vision was to create a cozy, comfortable place where people could feel at home — enjoy coffee, listen to relaxing music, and notice small details like flowers and pillows.
How did you come up with the name Gnihton?
Gnihton is a palindrome — "Nothing" spelled backwards. It's pronounced nee-ton.
The idea of creating something from nothing was always exciting to me. Muro suggested the palindrome as a name, and I loved it instantly.
What's your background, and did you have experience in hospitality?
Neither of us had experience running a coffee shop, which is why JK got involved. He's an experienced barista and very creative. His contribution has been priceless.
He also does stand-up comedy as a hobby and brings that humor into our Instagram channel, which makes it more fun. But in the end, it's the coffee that matters most.
Gnihton is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with plans to extend the hours.
And keep an eye on their interesting drink specials, too...
You can follow the shop on Instagram at @gnihtonnyc.
H/T CW on B
Welcome to the Gneighborhood!
ReplyDeleteGeorgian baked goods?
ReplyDeleteThey could have gone for Georgian food with an unpronounceable Georgian name, but nah. They went cutesy. Hard pass.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wild name. Kind of gives me a headache trying to read it. These people seem nice and I wish them the best, but this feels like a misstep that is going to hurt their business.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the block! And I would agree with @MTA614 - perhaps add the phonetic spelling on your outdoor chalkboard under the name - just as a gentle reminder on how to pronounce it.
ReplyDelete