The West Village coffeehouse, located at 31 Cornelia Street, was initially conceived as a venue for poetry, folk music, and visual art exhibitions.

[3] Admission was one dollar, and audience members were offered a coffee and an Italian pastry along with the show.

A new lighting system had been installed, along with the fireproofing of the Caffe's ceiling, which prevented the fire from spreading to the rest of the tenement building.

The community raised money by staging benefit performances while the Caffe was closed for renovations.

[3] The Caffe Cino was an incubator for first-time directors, playwrights, actors, and lighting or set designers.