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Denise Amorelli always wanted to run her own café. Eight years ago, she made that dream a reality. What started as a café called Steam has evolved into M.A.D. Café on Wolfs Lane.
Located mere minutes from the Pelham Metro-North train station, the café has become a hotspot for both on-the-go commuters and locals who want to sit and relax.
"When people come here they know there are friends here, people they can talk to," Amorelli said. "They can feel comfortable and read a book or meet somebody that they know."
Amorelli first opened the café because she felt the community needed a coffee house that also served salads and sandwiches. Eventually, she added a full service breakfast and the menu grew.
Amorelli had owned a concession stand at the train station, but sold it to her mother who runs it from 6-10 a.m. She said there is little competition for customers between the two because the food each offers is different.
When she bought out her partner a few years ago, Amorelli changed the name to M.A.D. Café, which stands for Modern American Dining, and added full dinners to the menu she created.
Amorelli wanted the restaurant to have a New York City feel and ensured the décor echoed that. A Palladian window sits above the angled entrance on the corner of Wolfs Lane and Sparks Ave. Dim lights and metallic fans hang from a silver panel ceiling.
Some elements of the café's former incarnation are still visible. The house salad is still called the Steam Salad on the menu.
Amorelli has been involved in the Pelham community since she moved here 11 years ago. She has two children enrolled in Pelham schools and belongs to the Junior League of Pelham. Those connections helped her establish a familiar consumer base.
Although the café has changed cosmetically since its inception, a crucial element of its success is the friendly atmosphere.
"It's a real gathering spot, very locally driven," Amorelli said. "You come in and it's like Cheers. Everybody knows your name. If you don't want to talk to anybody, you shouldn't come here."
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