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Location | Saratoga Springs, New York |
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Coordinates | 43°04′50″N 73°47′00″W / 43.08049°N 73.78327°W |
Type | Coffeehouse, non-profit |
Opened | 1960 |
Website | |
http://www.caffelena.org/ |
Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, Caffè Lena is the oldest continually running coffee house in the United States. [1] Founded in 1960 by William and Lena Spencer (née Nargi), [2] it claims to be the oldest folk-oriented coffee house, in the U.S., [3] featuring acoustic concerts and cultural events showcasing folk music, traditional music, and singer-songwriters of a wide range, including artist Bob Dylan, who performed for two consecutive nights at the cafè in 1961, a year prior to the release of his debut album. [4]
During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021, Caffè Lena began streaming live music on a donation based pay scale, featuring the music of folk musicians like Kate McDonnell and Natalie Haas. [5]
Since Lena Spencer's death on October 23, 1989 (she was born on January 4, 1923), [6] Caffè Lena has been a not-for-profit organization.