IDT Megabite Cafe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids IDT Megabite Cafe |
|
|---|---|
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1996 |
| Closed | 1998 |
| Current owner(s) | IDT Corporation |
| Food type | Sushi, Cafe |
| Dress code | Neat casual |
| Street address | 44 2nd Street |
| City | New York City |
| State | New York |
| Country | United States of America |
| Coordinates | 40°45′22″N 73°58′49″W / 40.75609°N 73.98027°W |
| Seating capacity | 50 |
| Other information | cybercafe |
The IDT Megabite Cafe (also known as IDT Mega Bite Cafe) was a special place in New York City. It was a cybercafe and a sushi bar. What made it really unique was that it was the world's first ever kosher cybercafe.
Contents
The Story of IDT Megabite Cafe
The IDT Megabite Cafe was located in a busy part of New York City called the Diamond District. When it first opened, it was a kosher cafe that mainly served pizza.
Becoming a Cybercafe
In February 1997, the cafe changed a lot. It was turned into a cybercafe. This big change cost about $135,000 at the time. They added a new look inside and a kosher sushi bar. This made it the first kosher cybercafe in the world!
When the cafe reopened in 1997, it was very modern. Each dining table had its own computer. There were also two extra computers just for checking email. In total, there were about 12 computers for customers to use.
Welcoming New Customers
A person named Howard Jonas, who worked for the IDT Corporation, said that adding computers brought in more people. Before, many customers were Orthodox Jews who worked in the Diamond District. But with the computers, many different kinds of people started visiting.
To welcome these new customers, the Megabite Cafe stayed open two extra hours every night. However, on Fridays, the cafe closed one hour before sunset. It stayed closed until Sunday. This was to follow the Jewish Sabbath, a special day of rest.
The Founder and Kosher Rules
The IDT Megabite Cafe was started by Gaddy Haymov. He was 31 years old and from Israel. He worked with IDT Corporation to create this unique kosher cafe.
To make sure the food followed Jewish traditions, a rabbi would inspect it. A rabbi is a Jewish religious leader. This made sure the food met Jewish dietary laws. The cafe became a popular spot for Jewish events. These included weddings and bar mitzvahs, which are special ceremonies for boys. There was even a separate "sushi rabbi." This person made sure the sushi did not have shellfish or crabs, which are not kosher.
Computers and Jewish Traditions
Even the computers at the cybercafe followed Jewish traditions. The Jewish idea is to have "a clean body and a clean mind." So, when the cafe was busy at lunchtime, customers could see a large poster. This poster was behind the computers. It listed approved websites they could visit. This list included websites for groups like the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. It also listed Project Genesis, which is an educational program for people who follow the Jewish faith.
