[2] Nicholson moved to New York City after he was declared 4F and exempted from military service.

He originally planned to work in fashion design, and obtained a job at Macy's department store.

Growing tired of the design field, he vacationed in Europe and was inspired by Rome's Caffè Greco, he created the lavish Greco-Roman interior of Café Nicholson on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

[3] Nicholson's friend, self-taught southern chef Edna Lewis, co-owned the restaurant until the mid-1970s,[3] with her specialties being roast chicken with herbs and chocolate soufflé.

[2] Café Nicholson attracted members of high society as well as such artistic, literary and cultural figures such as Tennessee Williams, Gore Vidal, Jean Renoir and photographer Karl Bissinger.