Metro North ticket booth closes at Chappaqua station, but Café steams right along

January 15, 2010
by Christine Yeres

For 12 years, Mitar Pejanovic, 42, has run Cafe La Track, out of space at the back of the Chappaqua train station that he leases from the town.  And although Metro North has closed its ticket booth and dismissed its employee, Cafe La Track is steaming right along.  Pejanovic arrives from South Salem each weekday morning at 4:00 a.m. and closes up at 11:00 a.m.  These days it’s still dark at 6:00 a.m. Dawn breaks around 6:30, from the front of the station. 

Most of his patrons file in quietly, some pick up one of several newspapers from stacks on the countertop, others go for the food, farther along the counter. The steamy heart of the operation is still farther along, across the counter. There is banter, but not about what drink Pejanovic will make for them or about what to put into it, because unless you’re a stranger passing through, Pejanovic knows what you take.  “I’m like second wife,” he explained, grinning.

Does he carry any healthful breakfast-y things?  “Basically, cut everything in half,” he said, pointing to the half-bagels and half-bagels-and-cream-cheese folded into waxed paper or wrapped in Saran.  “That’s the health breakfast. I have a few protein bars, but people don’t need a lot. They are going to eat lunch at the office in a few hours. Mostly they need drinks.”  Mostly coffee. Is the coffee good?  “I say I have the best coffee in the train station,” he responded.

Metro North ticket booth closes at Chappaqua station, but Café steams right along

See Pejanovic in action in photos inside and in Photo Gallery
January 15, 2010
by Christine Yeres

For 12 years, Mitar Pejanovic, 42, has run Cafe La Track, out of space at the back of the Chappaqua train station that he leases from the town.  And although Metro North has closed its ticket booth and dismissed its employee, Cafe La Track is steaming right along.  Pejanovic arrives from South Salem each weekday morning at 4:00 a.m. and closes up at 11:00 a.m. These days, dawn breaks around 6:30, from the front of the station. 

Most of his patrons file in quietly, some pick up one of several newspapers from stacks on the countertop, others go for the food, farther along the counter. The steamy heart of the operation is still farther along, across the counter. There is banter, but not about what drink Pejanovic will make for them or about what to put into it, because unless you’re a stranger passing through, Pejanovic knows what you take.  “I’m like second wife,” he explained, grinning.

Does he carry any healthful breakfast-y things?  “Basically, cut everything in half,” he said, pointing to the half-bagels and half-bagels-and-cream-cheese folded into waxed paper or wrapped in Saran.  “That’s the health breakfast. I have a few protein bars, but people don’t need a lot. They are going to eat lunch at the office in a few hours. Mostly they need drinks.”  Mostly coffee. Is the coffee good?  “I say I have the best coffee in the train station,” he responded.

Copyright 2012 NewCastleNOW.org