For more than a year after movie star Tom Cruise walked through the door of Chez Marie Café on West 22nd Street in Bayonne, Marie Folger, the owner, received phone calls, visits, and even Christmas cards addressed to him.
Cruise had come to Bayonne in mid-October of 2004 to look over the sets being constructed here for Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds,” in which Cruise was to star. Since the actor was in search of coffee, a local police officer directed him to Chez Marie.
The incident gave the café world recognition as reporters and news media flocked to interview the store owner, including stints on NBC’s “Today Show” as well as a feature presentation on the NBC’s affiliate in Japan.
“He was a real gentleman,” Folger recalled about Cruise at the time. “He was a very nice guy.”
Unfortunately, Folger announced earlier this year that the store would close as of April 1, one sign of the local and national economy. Rising costs, taxes, and utilities combining with the recent closing of the Catholic school across the street conspired to cause the store to dip into the red.
Chez Marie, seen by some as an example of what a new Bayonne business district might become, was a savvy hangout, fashioned in some ways over the relaxed cafes found in other places such as Montclair or Hoboken. On most days when you walked in, Frank Sinatra music would be playing in the background.
The place has drawn a variety of people and groups since it opened its doors in 1997.
Folger took over a store that was previously known as “Nana’s.”
Her sister in law talked her into opening the business here. Once Folger made up her mind, she leaped into the effort – although she really didn’t know what she was getting into.
She didn’t know how to make a gift basket, for instance – something someone ordered the first day.
“I’m sure we put too much in the basket,” she said.
Business took off right away
The church and school across the street generated a lot of business. People came here after weddings, first holy communions, and more. Prayer groups settled here, and so did workers from places such as IMTT. Reading and knitting groups also met at the shop. Politicians were known to gather there, from morning regular Council President Vincent Lo Re to out of town politicians such as Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason.
In the last two Bayonne mayoral elections, organizers of the debates met in Chez Marie to hash out the details.
The place was a morning hangout for many local business people, such as Leonard Janes at Unique Books – who purchased a pot of coffee to offer free to his customers.
Groups like the Pearl Girls and the Knit Wits came in regularly, Folger said.
Folger, who was working at Vroom School as a teacher’s aide, hadn’t run a business prior to starting Chez Marie.
“It’s not as much fun anymore.” – Marie Folger
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“It’s not as much fun anymore,” she said during an interview a week before she closed the shop’s doors.
Over the last week, however, people came from all over the city to say goodbye, filling up every seat, many giving hugs along with tips as they wished her well.
“I’ve met a lot of great people since I opened, and I’m going to miss them all,” she said.
On her last day, unable to keep back the tears, she said, “Who knows, maybe there’ll be a mini-Chez Marie someday?”
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.