Is Caffe Lena really the longest-running coffeehouse in the country?
Yes! Lena and Bill Spencer first opened their doors in May, 1960. Neither one had ever done anything like this before, but they figured Saratoga Springs was a good place to open a cafe and make enough money to travel and pursue their individual interests. Bill was a sculptor and Lena was an actress. In the ensuing years, Lena created a legend. Our remarkable roster of artists includes Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Arlo Guthrie, Don McLean, Nanci Griffith, Dave Van Ronk, Odetta, Rev. Gary Davis, Utah Phillips, Ani DiFranco, G.Love, and hundreds upon hundreds of others. For a more complete history of Caffe Lena, please visit our special history website at www.caffelenahistory.org.
