Gem Home NYC: Young star cher Flynn McGarry's new cafe and home goods store

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When Flynn McGarry wanted to add some color to the dining area of Gem Home, he grabbed the lion-patterned rug off his living room floor and threw it on the wall. The duck-shaped nut cracker, model sailboat, and scalloped blue glass plates also came from his own holdings: he lives right upstairs and Gem Home, in his new café-store, NYC’s Little Italy, is his most personal outpost to date.

Flynn, a “former teen chef,” as his Instagram reads, and avid vintage collector, turns 26 this month and has been in the restaurant business more than half his life: he started by hosting a supper club in his childhood home in Los Angeles and opened his first New York restaurant, Gem (that’s his mother’s name backwards) at 19. We met him a year ago when he had just debuted Gem’s latest incarnation as Gem Wine, the hotspot wine bar that he built and styled himself: see 8 Design Lessons from a 25-Year-Old Star Chef’s DIY Restaurant Makeover.

Since then, he’s been planning a new formal restaurant and gigs as guest chef have sent him all over—from Todos Santos, Mexico, to Kyoto. Wherever he goes, Flynn carries an extra suitcase that he fills with local wares that catch his eye. He initially sold the overflow in periodic Gem Wine yard sales, but now has his finds on display at the entrance to Gem Home. There’s also a produce case, an open kitchen and pantry, and the aforementioned dining room with family-style tables—yes, made by Flynn.

Photography by Sean Davidson, courtesy of Gem Home.

gem home is in a historic structure a block north of chinatown that was origina 17 — Above: Gem Home is in a historic structure a block north of Chinatown that was originally an olive oil bottling plant. Flynn’s landlord also lives in the building and invited him to take over the ground floor, previously a fashion boutique.

the space has a combination shop and grocery up front, a kitchen with a bread o 18 — Above: The space has a combination shop and grocery up front, a kitchen with a bread oven and counter service in the middle, and a dining area in the back.

on offer: vintage and new housewares alongside fresh produce, pickled peppers, 19 — Above: On offer: vintage and new housewares alongside fresh produce, pickled peppers, Marmite butter, and ume plum salt.

the edible offerings are either made in house or come from flynn&#8\2\17;s 20 — Above: The edible offerings are either made in-house or come from Flynn’s favorite suppliers. He says his easy commute has enabled him to clock an extra hour a night of sleep of late.

as at gem wine, flynn designed the café shop setup and built the additions 21 — Above: As at Gem Wine, Flynn designed the café-shop setup and built the additions himself—he learns new carpentry skills as he goes and enlists help from two friends who, like him, are can-do self-learners. The shelves and tables are red oak from a lumberyard in New Jersey—”I was looking at pine,” he tells us, “and was told for $1 more a foot, I could have a harder wood that’s similar in tone to the original flooring here.” Flynn converted an unused elevator shaft on the right into the pantry and laid its new brick floor himself. For inspiration, he looked at the open storage in Donald Judd’s Soho kitchen, now part of the Judd Foundation, which is within walking distance. Above: Flynn collaborated with UK organic perfume company Ffern on a natural quince soap and commissioned his ceramic artist friend Shane Gabier to make angular dispensers for it. The shelf above them displays David Mellor cutlery, a Remodelista favorite, and elsewhere there’s Mellor glassware and tea sets—”it’s everywhere in England but not here, so we decided to give them a spotlight.”

as at gem wine, flynn designed the café shop setup and built the additions 22 — Above: As at Gem Wine, Flynn designed the café-shop setup and built the additions himself—he learns new carpentry skills as he goes and enlists help from two friends who, like him, are can-do self-learners. The shelves and tables are red oak from a lumberyard in New Jersey—”I was looking at pine,” he tells us, “and was told for $1 more a foot, I could have a harder wood that’s similar in tone to the original flooring here.” Flynn converted an unused elevator shaft on the right into the pantry and laid its new brick floor himself. For inspiration, he looked at the open storage in Donald Judd’s Soho kitchen, now part of the Judd Foundation, which is within walking distance. Above: Flynn collaborated with UK organic perfume company Ffern on a natural quince soap and commissioned his ceramic artist friend Shane Gabier to make angular dispensers for it. The shelf above them displays David Mellor cutlery, a Remodelista favorite, and elsewhere there’s Mellor glassware and tea sets—”it’s everywhere in England but not here, so we decided to give them a spotlight.”

towels by autumn sonata hang from figural hooks found by flynn in his vintage h 23 — Above: Towels by Autumn Sonata hang from figural hooks found by Flynn in his vintage hunts. The walls throughout are painted in a Farrow & Ball cream-colored white called Tallow.

the restaurant is open from 9 to 6 pm, and makes its own breads, pastries, and 24 — Above: The restaurant is open from 9 to 6 pm, and makes its own breads, pastries, and salads right here in the center of the space. The menu changes daily, and features inspired seasonal pairings.

flynn modeled the dining room after danish museum cafeterias, such as frederik 25 — Above: Flynn modeled the dining room after Danish museum cafeterias, such as Frederik Bille Brahe’s Apollo Bar & Kantine in Copenhagen: “I wanted it to feel communal, a place you can sit a while.” He built the tables out of red oak using a Domino joiner. The hanging lights are Louis Poulsen’s classic PH5 Pendant in aluminum. The large painting is by Anthony Gelfand.

as at gem wine, there are vintage vico magistretti carimate chairs and lookalik 26 — Above: As at Gem Wine, there are vintage Vico Magistretti Carimate Chairs and lookalikes around the tables: see our recent Object Lesson on the seats. The art is a mix of work by friends of Flynn’s and yard sale finds, so the look is intentionally more like a living room than a curated space.

the rug flynn snatched from his apartment works well as a wall tapestry: he fou 27 — Above: The rug Flynn snatched from his apartment works well as a wall tapestry: he found it in the corner of a Millbrook, NY, antiques shop for a good price because it has a worn section in the middle: “you can always find a deal,” he says.

flynn added tongue and groove pine dividers to set off the dining room—a 28 — Above: Flynn added tongue-and-groove pine dividers to set off the dining room—and built pegged, cushioned benches to stand in front of them. He plans to also use the room for special events.

flynn says his next restaurant is a formal establishment that will likely open 29 — Above: Flynn says his next restaurant is a formal establishment that will likely open a year from now. In the meantime, he has his hands full.

Before

flynn built the tables in situ. he refinished the ceiling but left the steel be 30 — Above: Flynn built the tables in situ. He refinished the ceiling but left the steel beams as is. The back door leads to a small yard that will have outdoor tables in the warm weather.

Gem Home is at 181 Mott Street in NYC and Gem Wine is just a few blocks away at 116 Forsyth Street.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Gem Home located?

Gem Home is located at 181 Mott Street in NYC.

Who is the chef behind Gem Home?

The chef behind Gem Home is Flynn McGarry, a former teen chef and avid vintage collector.

What is the concept of Gem Home?

Gem Home is a combination café, vintage store, and grocery located in NYC's Little Italy.

What kind of items can be found at Gem Home?

Gem Home offers a mix of vintage and new housewares, fresh produce, pickled peppers, Marmite butter, and ume plum salt.

What are the dining options at Gem Home?

Gem Home offers a dining area with family-style tables, and the menu changes daily with inspired seasonal pairings.

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Gem Home: Wunderkind Chef Flynn McGarry’s New NYC Café, Vintage Store, and Grocery

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