Mario Nnani, a Jamaica, Queens native, built a DIY espresso cart in 2020 as the pandemic took hold, practiced at MoMA PS1 by giving away free coffee, then ran pop-ups and art showcases. He named the shop for Queens as a melting pot of cultures.
His shop on 40th Street opened in October 2024 and serves Sey Coffee at a curved counter. A separate lounge at the back, hung with framed paintings, is laptop-free, and wine and beer come out in the evenings.
