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Date: 4/6/2023
NEW YORK — Longmeadow native Gabby Madden opened her new restaurant, Gab’s, in the West Village of New York.
Gab’s is described as funky, colorful and full of energy, a space that highlights artists and local seasonal cuisine by Chef Nate Ashton. All of the artwork on the walls is done by Madden herself and friends of hers. There’s also a mosaic outside of the restaurant that is made entirely of broken plates saved from her family home from 20 years.
“It’s been a dream of mine for a long time,” said Madden. “I’ve been working in restaurants since I was 18. When I came to New York I came there to be an artist, but also figure out what else I wanted to do with my life. After managing restaurants in New York for a while, I decided if I’m going to keep going in this industry, I needed to do it for myself.”
Madden graduated from Longmeadow High School in 2011 and went to Parsons School of Design in New York where she earned two degrees in global studies and fine arts. She was the assistant general manager of Little Prince and general manager Lola Taverna. Though she has been living in New York for over 11 years, Madden carries that strong sense of community and support of her Longmeadow roots with her and it is the foundation of what allowed her to open her own restaurant.
“I built a small community in New York from working in different restaurants and meeting a bunch of people, “Madden said. “It was those people that supported me, invested in the restaurant and help me get the place open.”
Madden wants the food at Gab’s to be artful; constantly pushing new innovative ideas on the plate. Ashton uses colors and techniques to create art on the plate, as well as using different textures and combinations of sauces that bring patterns in the food. Right now, Madden is working in getting open for outdoor seating, as Gab’s is already open for brunch. For the future, she wants to always push the element of creativity such as inviting artists, poets and other kinds of experiences into the space.
“The goal is to always bring new and different experiences to people when they come in here,” Madden said. “Whether it’s a new dish they haven’t tried or a new piece of art to look at; pushing the bounds of what it means to be a creative space in New York and enjoy the luxury of dining.”
Gab’s is located on 76 Carmine St. and currently open Wednesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight.