Because the World Cup kicked off in November, the buzziest watch parties in Recent York City have been happening behind a nondescript door on Chrystie Street.
Kyle Martino‘s Football Cafe, a soccer speakeasy created by the previous MLS player and broadcaster, has hosted over 3,000 fans including celebrities like comedian Andrew Schulz, “Billions” actor Fisher Stevens, Steve Nash and his former mother-in-law Susan Sarandon, who’s an investor.
“I desired to create a UN of a clubhouse with the No. 1 sport on the planet in probably the most diverse place on the planet,” Martino, 41, told The Post.
On the primary floor there’s a DJ, a merchandise stand selling goods from independent designers and a large screen playing the games, while upstairs houses an extended bar, a handful of televisions and space with Persian rugs and a hodge-podge of couches and chairs that seems like your quirky, well-to-do friend’s front room.
Initially the guest list was built by word of mouth. Those that stumbled upon the Football Cafe Instagram page, which now has 8,200 followers, could text a 917 number to get past the doorman. Then as word spread and fans knocked on the unmarked door, things got a bit easier.
“We began letting them in if we had space,” said Martino.
The entrepreneur plans to eventually turn the venue into a non-public club revolving around soccer, art and culture.
“I’ve all the time wanted a SoHo House for soccer — I’ve been waiting for another person to do it, and nobody was,” Martino, a Soho House member, said. “I’m an impatient person, so I went for it. Soccer is a good looking lubricant that I’m amazed social clubs haven’t used yet.”
In 2019, he began a club on the lower floors of his Greenpoint townhouse, which quickly ballooned to 180 members. It was too big, so he shut it down and went on the hunt for an area. Seven months ago, a “For Rent” sign went up at 141 Chrystie St., across from Lion’s Gate Field at Sara D. Roosevelt Park, where Martino’s Street FC soccer league plays. It was a serendipitous location, but the owner kept brushing him off.
Martino showed up daily for 30 days to persuade him to let him into the constructing.
“It was a vacant constructing. Nobody had been in for years, and he was storing avocados there. The place was graffitied, and there was a hole within the roof.”
4 months ago, he signed the lease and brought Victoria’s Secret CEO Martin Waters, Sarandon and former ESPN honcho John Skipper on as initial investors.
He raced to whip it into shape before the World Cup, using his own furnishings and memorabilia, including a signed Pelé Recent York Cosmos jersey. He even brought his enormous front room couch to anchor the second floor.
He then commissioned local artist Adam Dressner to re-create historical paintings with the heads of soccer superstars, including a showstopping depiction of Diego Maradona on King Henry VIII’s body.
He’s also had design help from prolific streetwear designer Diego Moscosoni, who has designed kits for Venezia FC.
On Sunday, the ultimate between France and Argentina can be a full house including Martino; his ex wife, actress and lifestyle blogger Eva Amurri; their three kids; Amurri’s latest boyfriend and her mother. Space can be limited, but they’re selling $45 tickets, which incorporates one free drink. They sell beer, wine and bites like breakfast burritos, burgers and avocado toast from the crew behind Jackdaw within the East Village.
After the ultimate whistle, Kyle Martino’s Football Cafe will likely shut as they hash out the more everlasting iteration. And while plans are still evolving, Martino said the constructing can have a small restaurant open to the general public. He’ll likely start the social club with 50 founding members and roll out from there.
“I’m attempting to fill this space with individuals who caught the thrill of what’s happening next,” said Martino. He desires to keep the momentum from the World Cup alive and construct toward 2026, when the event can be held here in North America.
“[The United States] is much behind in some ways, but who cares? We now have every right to like this game as anyone else,” Martino said. “The 2026 World Cup can be the most important sporting event in our lifetimes. It is going to prove the sport is a component of the social fabric of this nation.”
His eventual goal is to open locations in various US cities before the subsequent games.
“I’m out to place a flag in the bottom.”
