Fashion Cafe

Fashion Cafe was a fashion-themed restaurant chain founded in New York City in 1995 by Italian-American brothers Tammasco Buti and Francesco Buti. The concept sought to apply the celebrity-driven model associated with entertainment restaurants to the fashion world. Its initial public identity was strongly connected to supermodels Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington, who were presented as the venture's high-profile front figures. The chain was described by the Associated Press as a couture-oriented counterpart to Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock Cafe, reflecting its emphasis on celebrity association, visual spectacle, and memorabilia rather than on fashion as a technically specialized subject. The business grew out of Tammasco Buti's earlier experience in New York food service. After moving from Florence, Italy, to New York City in 1989, he joined associates in establishing a catering company called Focaccia. That operation served Wall Street clients and developed corporate relationships with customers including Donna Karan and Merrill Lynch. The Butis then used this hospitality background, together with connections to the fashion and entertainment industries, to develop Fashion Cafe. The first restaurant opened at Rockefeller Center in New York in 1995. A London location entered construction in May 1996 and opened the following year, but it became insolvent in 1999. The chain also expanded its presence to South Africa, Mexico, and Spain, although the available record does not establish the number, operating dates, or performance of each location. Fashion Cafe openings attracted a broad group of fashion, entertainment, and media personalities. Reported attendees included Gianni and Donatella Versace, Tyra Banks, Veronica Webb, Beverly Peele, Eileen Ford, Stephen Baldwin, David Copperfield, the Wayans brothers, Jon Stewart, Matt Lauer, RuPaul, and Molly Ringwald. The celebrity attendance helped position the restaurants as social and promotional venues as much as ordinary dining establishments. Their interiors and exteriors were designed to be highly visible: the facade was described as shiny and heavily merchandised, with a large steel nameplate and glass windows intended to engage passersby. The presentation reportedly made the venue resemble a souvenir shop as much as a restaurant. Tammasco Buti explained the concept as a deliberately accessible interpretation of fashion. Rather than expecting diners to understand the industry's deeper history or design culture, the business emphasized glamour and entertainment. This approach broadened the potential audience but also made the brand dependent on celebrity visibility, novelty, and the economics of high-profile restaurant operations. The chain subsequently faced serious financial and legal problems. Tax authorities issued warrants in 1998 over months of unpaid taxes, and Fashion Cafe closed later that year. Business partners also sued Tammasco Buti for approximately $15 million, according to contemporary reporting. The Buti brothers later became the subject of a major United States federal criminal case. In December 2000, the United States Attorney's Office indicted them on 51 counts, including conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering. The allegations stated that investor funds had been used to support lavish personal lifestyles and that the brothers had falsely represented the amount of their own investment in Fashion Cafe. They were arrested in Milan. In 1998, Donald Trump had hired Tammasco Buti to lead the planned Trump Model Management agency and publicly defended him as a capable but unfairly accused operator; the restaurant business, Trump said, was not suited to him. On January 19, 2021, Trump granted Buti a full pardon before he had been tried on the federal charges. Fashion Cafe itself did not return as a significant operating restaurant chain in the available record and is treated as defunct.

Fashion Cafe emerged in New York during the mid-1990s as a restaurant concept built around the commercial appeal of fashion celebrities. Its founders, Italian-American brothers Tammasco and Francesco Buti, drew on Tammasco's earlier hospitality experience. After moving from Florence to New York in 1989, Tammasco helped establish Focaccia, a catering business serving Wall Street and corporate customers such as Donna Karan and Merrill Lynch. The brothers later combined that food-service background with relationships in fashion and entertainment to launch Fashion Cafe. The first Fashion Cafe opened at Rockefeller Center in New York City in 1995. Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington were its most prominent public-facing supermodel associates, giving the brand a level of celebrity recognition unusual for a new restaurant chain. The concept was often compared with Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock Cafe, but with fashion replacing film, music, or rock memorabilia as its central cultural reference. In practice, the brand emphasized glamour, celebrity appearances, branded objects, and a visually distinctive environment more than detailed engagement with fashion design. The chain pursued international expansion. Construction of a London restaurant began on May 6, 1996, and the branch opened in 1997. Fashion Cafe also expanded into South Africa, Mexico, and Spain. Openings drew figures from fashion, entertainment, media, and popular culture, including the Versaces, Tyra Banks, Eileen Ford, RuPaul, and Molly Ringwald. The restaurants were designed for visibility and souvenir-oriented consumption. Descriptions of the facade emphasize its reflective finish, large steel signage, merchandise, and broad glass windows. This presentation made the venues resemble celebrity-themed retail attractions as well as restaurants. Tammasco Buti framed the business as a deliberately simplified version of fashion culture. He argued that most customers were more interested in glamour and entertainment than in the deeper or more technical aspects of fashion. That positioning made Fashion Cafe accessible to a general audience, but it also tied the business closely to novelty, celebrity participation, and expensive restaurant operations. The London location failed in 1999, roughly a year after opening, and the wider chain suffered serious financial problems. In 1998, tax agents issued warrants over months of unpaid taxes. Fashion Cafe closed later that year, while Buti's business partners sued him for approximately $15 million. During the same period, Donald Trump selected Tammasco Buti to lead the planned Trump Model Management agency and publicly defended his abilities, arguing that he was better suited to modeling than restaurant management. The appointment did not restore Fashion Cafe's restaurant business. The legal controversy escalated in December 2000 when federal prosecutors indicted Tammasco and Francesco Buti on 51 counts, including conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering. The allegations stated that investor money had been used to finance lavish personal lifestyles and that the brothers had falsely claimed to have contributed millions of dollars of their own funds to Fashion Cafe. They were arrested in Milan. The available reference does not document a trial verdict. On January 19, 2021, Donald Trump granted Tammasco Buti a full pardon before trial. Fashion Cafe is now regarded as a defunct restaurant chain.

• 2021

  Pardon of Tammasco Buti

  [1]Fashion Cafeen.wikipedia.org

  Donald Trump granted Tammasco Buti a full pardon before he had been tried on the federal charges.

• 2000

  Federal indictment of the founders

  [1]Fashion Cafeen.wikipedia.org

  The Buti brothers were indicted on 51 federal counts involving alleged conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering.

• 1999

  London branch fails

  [1]Fashion Cafeen.wikipedia.org

  The London location went bust about a year after opening.

• 1998

  Tax problems and chain closure

  [1]Fashion Cafeen.wikipedia.org

  Tax warrants were issued over unpaid taxes, and Fashion Cafe closed later in the year.

• 1996

  London expansion begins

  [1]Fashion Cafeen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the London branch began on May 6, 1996.

• 1995

  First Fashion Cafe opens

  [1]Fashion Cafeen.wikipedia.org

  The inaugural restaurant opened at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

• 1989

  Tammasco Buti moves to New York

  [1]Fashion Cafeen.wikipedia.org

  Tammasco Buti moved from Florence, Italy, to New York City and later became involved in corporate catering.

A celebrity-led, fashion-oriented restaurant and merchandise concept positioned as an accessible, glamorous entertainment venue rather than a specialist fashion institution.

• Restaurant chain · 1995

  Fashion Cafe restaurants

  The core offering was a fashion-themed restaurant format combining casual dining with celebrity branding, conspicuous interiors, fashion references, and a social-event atmosphere. The locations were designed to attract visitors who wanted an entertainment-oriented experience rather than a specialist fashion education.

• Branded merchandise · 1995

  Fashion-themed merchandise

  Merchandise and souvenir-style presentation were part of the customer experience. The exterior and interior design reportedly gave the venues a retail-like appearance, helping visitors consume the brand through visible logos, fashion associations, and memorabilia alongside food service.

• 2021

  Executive pardon before trial

  Tammasco Buti received a full presidential pardon from Donald Trump before trial on the federal charges.

  Source

• 2000

  Federal fraud and money-laundering indictment

  Federal prosecutors charged Tammasco and Francesco Buti in a 51-count indictment. The allegations included misuse of investor money for personal lifestyles and false claims about the founders' own financial contributions.

  Source

• 1998

  Unpaid-tax warrants and partner lawsuit

  Tax authorities issued warrants over months of unpaid taxes, and Fashion Cafe closed later that year. Business partners also sued Tammasco Buti for approximately $15 million.

  Source

Read more

• 1996

  Pursue international expansionStrategy

  Background

  After opening in New York, the chain attempted to establish an international footprint.

  Action taken

  Construction began on a London branch, and the brand also expanded into South Africa, Mexico, and Spain.

  Aftermath

  The London branch opened but went bust in 1999, while the wider chain closed in 1998 according to the available account.

  Source

• 1995

  Launch a celebrity-led fashion restaurant conceptStrategy

  Background

  The founders sought to translate the celebrity-restaurant model into fashion, using supermodel associations and entertainment-oriented presentation.

  Action taken

  Fashion Cafe opened in Rockefeller Center with Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington as prominent public-facing associates.

  Aftermath

  The concept attracted substantial celebrity attention and expanded internationally, but the chain later suffered closure, insolvency, and legal problems.

  Source

1. 1Fashion Cafeen.wikipedia.org